Tree Help Needed

[Karnage]

The leaves have started turning brown on a maple tree in my yard. The bark at the bottom of the trunk has also cracked open. Does anyone have an idea what the problem could be and how to save the tree if possible?

[Sam1]

the recent heat wave/ lack of rain may have exacerbated previous damage.

can't tell from the pics exactly, is the wood rotted/soft around where the bark is cracked?

[Karnage]

the recent heat wave/ lack of rain may have exacerbated previous damage.

can't tell from the pics exactly, is the wood rotted/soft around where the bark is cracked?

The wood is not soft and it doesn't appear to be rotten.

[Raoul]

5 minutes ago, Karnage said:

The wood is not soft and it doesn't appear to be rotten.

I say the drought. My yard is a mess.

[Garufa]

Are those brown leaves on the side that gets the most sun?  Regardless, tree are very resilient. 

[Karnage]

18 minutes ago, Garufa said:

Are those brown leaves on the side that gets the most sun?  Regardless, tree are very resilient. 

Yes, there are more brown leaves on the side that gets the most sun. 

[Sam1]

1 hour ago, Karnage said:

The wood is not soft and it doesn't appear to be rotten.

If it's just superficial damage at the trunk, I'd bet it's the no rain part... but you grass looks pretty green around the area though which is confusing.

[Lumber_Jack]

If it's just the bark I'd say it's probably lack of water. Maples have very shallow bark and are very susceptible to sunscald , frost cracking and other ailments. This tree is awfully big to be typical sunscald.

It very well could be wind shook. Had any bad storms recently?

[Patton]

It is hard for me to really tell by the pictures but I suspect you have something more severe than drought to worry with. The number one reason I say that is because during a drought most all species will sacrifice the old growth first. That does not appear to be the case. Once or twice i have seen trees turn because of a herbicide sprayed on the lawn underneath it and the vapors rising to hit the leaves. Drought further complicates this event.

 

The bark really scares me. Is there anyway it could have been damaged by a piece of machinery, a rope, or even someone beating on it? Is there a white looking fungus under the peeling bark? Understand that the bark is where the vascular system of the tree is.

Edited July 4, 2016 by Patton

[tercel89]

I have grown 6 maple trees in my yard from little tiny seedlings that I started from coffee cups and now they are huge. The biggest one has a trunk about as thick as the average person. It is healthy and it regularly sheds and cracks it's bark like I see in your picture. The only difference is that it's leaves are still green. Some trees turn their leaves brown when theres a good long draught.

[Karnage]

If it's just the bark I'd say it's probably lack of water. Maples have very shallow bark and are very susceptible to sunscald , frost cracking and other ailments. This tree is awfully big to be typical sunscald.

It very well could be wind shook. Had any bad storms recently?

There have been some high winds recently.

[Lumber_Jack]

Is it just the bark or is the wood underneath cracked too?

[Karnage]

It is hard for me to really tell by the pictures but I suspect you have something more severe than drought to worry with. The number one reason I say that is because during a drought most all species will sacrifice the old growth first. That does not appear to be the case. Once or twice i have seen trees turn because of a herbicide sprayed on the lawn underneath it and the vapors rising to hit the leaves. Drought further complicates this event.

 

The bark really scares me. Is there anyway it could have been damaged by a piece of machinery, a rope, or even someone beating on it? Is there a white looking fungus under the peeling bark? Understand that the bark is where the vascular system of the tree is.

I don't see any fungus under the bark. It is possible that it could have been damaged by my lawn service.

[Karnage]

Is it just the bark or is the wood underneath cracked too?

Just the bark.

[tercel89]

14 minutes ago, Karnage said:

Just the bark.

Then I wouldn't worry about it based on my experience . All mine seem to crack their bark here and there and they are growing great.

[Lumber_Jack]

Just the bark.

So the leaf wilt and the bark crack may or may not be related. The bark could be wind shake and the leaves drought.

There is also a chance they're related. There could be a fungus or canker under the bark causing both.

[Patton]

What kind of maple is it? If you don't know give me a close up of one leaf. Assuming that it is a sugar maple, because that is what it looks like, they normally do not have exfoliating bark. 

 

I hate to come right out and say it but you are right. It really looks like a classic, text book example of cankers. I just wanted to eliminate any possibility of mechanical injury. 

[Patton]

I am sure the drought has stressed your tree, but I do not believe this is the sole cause of the abnormal turning of leaves. In almost all species of plants leaves attached to previous years growth will turn or wilt long before the leaves on the current years growth. In layman's terms, the plant will sacrifice the old growth first. In this case the leaves on the tips of the branches have turned as much as the leaves near the leader.

[Sunfish]

It appears to be a soft maple. FHA regulation trees are fast growing and was probably planted when the home was built. When the sap goes down in cold weather I would lollypop trim it and if it continued to decay or look to be diseased cut it down and start over with something different. Sunfish 

[Karnage]

31 minutes ago, Patton said:

What kind of maple is it? If you don't know give me a close up of one leaf.

Patton, I'm not sure what kind of maple it is. Below is a closeup of a leaf.

[Patton]

It looks like a variation of a red maple. It really shouldn't have bark looking like that.

 

Did it start out the spring nice and green?

Edited July 4, 2016 by Patton