Re: Japanese maple advice please My japanese maple is having problems. Outward appearances indicate it could be Verticillium Wilt; however, I don't see its trademark sign in the interior. Images are at: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/597416/ Any advice? Thanks, -Tiffany
"Only paid subscribers may view the full-size forum photos." - so we can't see the images (or any replies so far) on Dave's Garden.
I would think the only way to really know if you maple has verticilium wilt, is to have a sample diagnosed under a microscope at a lab. From that little pic, it has the look of v.wilt, but that same die back could be caused by other things, heat or drought stress, herbicide or any other oil based insecticides, even safers soap can fry a *** maple. Planted to deep with soil too high up the trunk. My 2 cents. Jim.
There is a discussion of this topic, started by MJH, here: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=8751&highlight=japanese+bark+issues I have an osakazuki that presents bark problems: the grower who sold it to me says it is fusarium, for instance.
I talked to our local Land Grant College (WSU) and will be delivering samples to them today. It is sounding more and more like Verticillium Wilt, unfortunately, and not various other pathogens w'eve discussed. They also said that if V.Wilt is confirmed no susceptible species should be planted in the area for ~20 years! Egads. I love maples. This is saddening.
After 20 yrs of spraying trees, against all info about V.wilt, I find that deeproot fertilizing, copper spraying in the fall and and sulpher spraying in the winter, and after a few years, possiblely increasing the strength and vascular system of the tree, allowing the larger sized cells of the disease to pass through the plant without blocking up the joints to cause dieback, seems to really help save japanese maples. I've treated maples that were just about toast, and once dead was removed, and 5 or so years later with those regular treatments, show absolutely no more signs of dieback. I hope to do a Thesis on this one day if I ever graduate my Bsc. This is just my opinion and is against everything written on verticilium wilt. Your tree looks fairly new and easily replaced, the trees I've treated are like much older and established and harder to replace. Hope your tree doen't have any type of baterial blight. Jim
Update: Took specimens to the WSU Plant Pathology Lab. They're running tests. Initial visual review is likely to rule out V.Wilt. Probably too new of planting to be a form of root-rot. Hopefully the agars/tests will tell us something.
Hi Tiffany, Didn't you say on Dave's Garden that it had gotten hit with frost? That could present some of the same appearances of Vert. Wilt. Wanda
