Wondering if somebody can please help with a freeman maple in Toronto, Ontario. History: planted 4 summers ago. The second summer was tough (drought all spring and summer and very little snow the prior winter) and it shut down early as it still was not established. We restaked it to straighten it a bit and protect if from the usual prevailing wind direction. The third summer it had great growth, about 30 inches or more on the top. Became firmly established (or so it seemed). Really didn't water more than 2 or 3 X because we had record rainfall for both the summer and year. The prior winter also had much snow, so lots of early spring moisture. Healthy through the growing season. In 4th summer, i.e 2009, we removed the stakes on advice of our landscaper/arborist - apparently allowing to bend in wind will cause it to release growth hormone and more firmly establish the roots. Our spring and summer have been unseasonably wet and cool, consequently we've only really watered 2 or 3X. The tree put on at least 18 inches of growth in the first two months of growing season. Really leafy, seemingly very healthy. Problem: At the end of June I noticed the leaves were hanging down somewhat. This was strange because because new growth was clearly continuing on the top and branches. New leaves come in red on a freeman and then turn green as they grow and mature. We started to see some fall colouration within a few days and it was clear the tree was stressed. This all happened within a week. A very unusual situation with clearly visible new growth coming in at the same time the mature leaves started to go red (the fall colour) There was no signs of disease on either the leaves or bark, but I noticed it was very loose at the base, i.e. I could wiggle the tree trunk in the ground. It was very firm when we removed the stakes in early May. We restaked it in early July, to make the base as stable as possible. We also cut back/moved some plants growing close to the base, and laid down some cedar mulch. We gave it some fertilizer and watered thoroughly, i.e. deep water. From there we gave it a couple more shallow waterings. It seemed to stabilize the tree and new shoots started to appear those leaves that were discolouring. We then had a thunderstorm with lots of wind - even though the tree was staked it was likely moving somewhat. It seems that after that storm, the tree just completely shut down. Leaves have not fallen, they've simply shriveled up and gone brown. I did fingernail test and there's still green under bark. Growing conditions: we have a landscaped yard, with a combination of natural landscape and grass. The natural landscape includes low lying indigenous plants, low lying evergreens, and large stones. The stones flow with the contour of the landscape and form a natural retaining wall between the yard and our driveway and flow to the sidewalk in front of our house. The tree is planted in the natural part of the garden about 45cm from the grass with a small cedar about 90 cm from base. The last two years have been unusually lush, as we've been setting records for rain and low average temperatures. Everything is growing really well, and we've watered very little. The tree has been fertilized twice a year since we've had it, generally in the later fall early spring, i.e. when it has no leaves. Fertilizing is lite and slow release tree fertilizer is used. Potential causes: 1. Not enough water? We considered this because of the surrounding plants and lawn - i.e. surrounding plants hogging water. However this seems unusual giving how much rain we've had this spring/summer; how well and quickly it was growing, and because every other plant is completely green and lush. After the problem began we cleared out all plants so there's at least a 60 cm radius from the base of tree to any other plant. 2. Too much water? The tree grows on a gentle slope, so water does not puddle or pool. However, the last two summers have been wet and cool. 3. Disease? No signs of fungus or any unusual discolouration on leaves or bark. 4. Not enough room? we considered this closely because of proximity to sidewalk and stone retaining wall. It's probably 8 feet from sidewalk and 4 feet on from retaining wall (though there is one stone in the naturally contoured wall that is about 2.5 feet away) on two sides, and then the other two sides are surrounded by grass. This may be an issue, but I walk around my neighbourhood and see healthy, mature freemans with the same amount of space ours has. 5. Storm damage. This seems like the most plausible, given how healthy, together with its quick decline and because this was the first year it was unstaked. We've had unusual amounts of storm damage to trees this year and we wonder if the wind did it. The tree is relatively unprotected from other trees - we have many other maples on our street, but generally the trees neaby are much smaller and more immature (apparently dutch elm disease felled all trees in the immediate vicinity about about 15 years ago). 6. Neighbourhood teenagers reefin' on it. Unlikely (especially since there are no broken branches), but can't rule it out because tree was very solid so I'm not completely convinced re storm damage theory. Anyway...........we're quite worried it's dying because it was in slow shutdown mode, but then leaves quickly shriveled up, and still remain on the branches, i.e. it went to quick shutdown mode. Any theories, similar experiences, prognostications would be helpful!!!
hi if possible send pics,however for me one possible cause is the lawn irragation(there is?),maple want most soil but good dreinage.. ciao
All this rain and lack of sunshine has been hard on many plants in our part of the world. I don't know what to think about this particular problem. You've done a really fine of job of closely examining all the factors at work, forming a hypothesis as to what might be the cause, and responding appropriately. On a gut level, I would say to quit watering. I mean, totally. Let the soil breathe a little. There could possibly be some soil-related issue here -- a nutrient deficiency perhaps, or maybe too much of something this particular species doesn't like. Perhaps a soil test of some kind would be worth doing. Though upon reflection, this seems unlikely, given that the tree was doing so well for a few years before this sudden reversal. On the whole, my own guess is that we're looking at some kind of disease that is affecting the roots of this plant. You noticed that the tree felt very loose at the base, some time after removing the stakes. Perhaps the wind, tossing the tree about, had caused some of the roots to snap. This, coinciding with all the wetness and lack of sunlight in spring and early summer, might in turn have given entry to some kind of fungus or other pathogen. But the weather is better now, the ground can dry out a bit. The tree is alive, though leaves have turned brown (as they have, I might add, on many woody plants around here). Are any leaves still green?
