I have a 18ft Acer which was planted 15yrs ago and has been beautiful for all this time. This year leaves started shrivelling on two or three branches which we cut back. This has now become more aggressive with more branches appearing to die and the rest of the tree looks autumnal (rather than green leaved) Is this wilt?
From the information you give I would guess that it is verticillium albo-atrum. You did the right thing cutting the affected branches. Now wait and hope that all branches are not affected and that the tree will be able to isolate the disease by cutting off the internal 'connections'. I have many maples that are affected each year and about 70% make it, albeit with some disfiguring that the tree will take several seasons to compensate. Gomero
Thank you for your reply. Looking at the tree now though in the dusk, I fear too late. However, If we cut down to just the bottom couple of branches (if it should survive) could it capable of growing back from this?
Cut only the branches where ALL leaves have shriveled, conserve sections where there are healthy looking leaves. The survival depends on the tree having some parts not affected by the fungus, if this is the case you should see new leaves sprouting from dormant buds in the unaffected areas. Sometimes there are nice surprises, 3 years ago I cut down a 15 years old palmatum 'Atropurpureum' thinking it was gone but a month later there was a lot of new growth from the stub and now it is an acceptable multi-trunk tree 4 m high. Gomero
Thanks again! It will be a very strange shape! As the left and right side going first. I have two dissectums (sp) in pots which are fine and a newer upright but smaller acer in the same border. Fingers crossed...
