And I have no idea why. A landscaping service said it was from Cicada damage. I live in Cincinnati and the 17 Year cicada was quite bad a few years ago. however, the damage started late last summer with the leaves looking wilted early. This spring, not all the leaves came out, there are TONS of split branches all the way up and especially around the base, and the leaves that did come out seem to be dying off quickly. What should I do? Thanks, Sara
It doesn't sound very promising. Do you see any splits at all in the trunk? Ask a local nursery (not landscapers!) about it, or an arborist either at the U., or under 'tree doctors'.
(not landscapers!) ? perhaps the phrase " ask someone who is knowledgeable about tree and shrub diseases and insects"? might be better, otherwise, thou dost paint us all with a single brush.. or something like that. :)
thanks jimmyq for addressing that. why don't you try your county extension agent. if they don't know, they know people who do. they also have the means to send off a sample to get an analysis conducted if they think its necessary. you pay for their services through taxes, use them that is why they are there.
Actually we would be really interested in understanding what happened as well. Could you take some close-up photographs of some of the split branches on various sections of the tree and post them here. You could then take these with you to the extension office either on a laptop, printed, or by directing their attention to the photographs posted here. You noticed the wilted leaves late last summer before you noticed the split branches? The leaves that emerged this spring are wilting or drooping and dying, or drying up and dying?
I have attached a few pictures of the tree bark and splitting branches as well as the leaves. This year, the tree did not fully bloom / or there are many branches without leaves. And yes, I did notice the leaves last year, turning colors early, drying up, etc. This year its much worse, and as I mentioned before the landscaper / I actually think he might have been an arborist thought it was the 17 year cicada damage. Is this possible? Is there anything I can do to help it along? Will it totally die?
If the arborist saw it and was sure it was cicadas, and had no good answer re helping it, I doubt that we could do a lot more from 'here', though I guess you could always call in another arborist or take the pix to a univ. hortic. dept.
Re: HELP my japanese maple branches are splitting Thank-you for posting some photographs; they are definitely helpful. I just would like to note that in the photograph of the split branch, the leaves above are red, but the photograph of the leaves and seeds, which preceeds it appears to be of a different cultivar. If you have at least two cultivars there, then I assume that the damage occurred only to this tree. You also mentioned that the “17 Year cicada was quite bad a few years ago,” but that “the damage started late last summer with the leaves looking wilted early.” It may be that these two events are not related. I did a quick search a couple of days ago, which yielded nothing on cicadas and Japanese maples, but I have been quite busy and unable to spend much time on the issue. I would like to suggest that while you are here, click above on Maples (for the opening page of the Maples forum), scroll down to the top of the list of threads, and type into Search this Thread the keywords “Japanese maple bark related issues” and read through that thread; then search other threads with any other keywords which come to mind. Let us know if you have any questions after reading through that thread, because I find the tight bark issue confusing, but there are some similarities to the coloration in the photographs of the trees there and of this tree here. Also try to take a few clearer photographs of the affected branches and take them in to your local agricultural extension office, or direct them to this posting. If one of the split branches is dead, which you can check by pruning it a bit at the end or first scratching the wood, then perhaps you should prune it back to the collar at the trunk as I have seen recommended here in the Maples forum. You can then take this branch in to the extension office with you. When pruning this or any other maple in your garden, it is advisable to dip your pruning shears into alcohol between cuts, especially since you have unusual events going on there. Please let us know what you find out if you contact the extension office.
Bark-Related Issues Thread These are links to a couple of Laurie's photos from the Bark thread: Photo 1 Photo 2 In think in time, you will see some similarities in the base of your tree and the lesion on the tree in the photos. I would suggest at least two distinct issues on your plant, but clearer photographs of the branches can help confirm this. Treatment at this point seems like a difficult endeavor, but it is hard to say. Read through the linked thread and let us know what you think. Tight Bark may be present, but the trunk lesion is of greater concern at the moment. regards,
