Hi All, Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I am not an active member and so my apologies in advance if this question has an obvious answer or has been answered many times before! I have a maple tree in my front yard that has been very healthy (at least, it seems that way) since I moved in 7 years ago. This year, it is dropping its leaves in May and seems stressed. Photos attached. There are small green caterpillars crawling on it that may be part of the issue… or perhaps the dry spring weather is to blame. Or maybe the patio / sidewalk is an issue? I have drip irrigation in this garden bed that I only recently turned on. Should I be concerned? Anything I can do to help? Thank you.
Hi Chris, it doesn't look from the pictures like the leafdrop is excessive. Can you get hires pictures of some terminal twigs where leaves have dropped? Do the dropped leaves seem to mostly come from inner branches? Any other environmental factors besides what Michael mentions that might contribute? E.g. did you see 20 days with no rain at all. Or was there a late freeze? In terms of the dreaded green caterpillars, it's unlikely they would have a major influence. You can tell where they're active from curled up leaves, or bunched terminal leaves with lots of holes. How about the base of the tree, has something been piled against it? Or has the sun exposure somehow changed this year, like a neighbouring tree was pruned or cut down, which previously provided shade? Any sewer or electrical work digging up the sidewalk? -E
Hi Emery - thanks for the detailed reply. It does seem like mostly inner branches and perhaps it is not as excessive as I implied! I've added a few photos of the inner branches, leaves with holes, and the base of the tree. We have been without water for 20+ days in Victoria but no late freeze that I can recall. The caterpillar damage to the leaves doesn't look too bad either. Nothing piled at the base of the tree or major changes in sun exposure. The sidewalk was replaced last fall (not our choice) but with minimal disturbance as it is a thin asphalt sidewalk. I will water, monitor, and see how things play out. Thank again, Chris
