Hello all. Please forgive my ignorance but my tree knowledge begins and ends with sitting under them. :) We have a paperbark maple that was planted in our yard about 4 years ago. It is about 6 feet tall and has always been beautiful since we got it. I was just out cleaning up the beds to get things ready for summer when I noticed it had this shell shaped fungus growing on it and the bark was peeling more than usual. Also, when I looked into a branch that had been snapped off, it looked almost like concrete in color and was very dry. We had an incredibly wet winter here - 26 plus inches of snow that stayed for WEEKS and I am afraid this may have done the tree in. Also, the trunk looks as if it has split. I am assuming this is all bad and the tree is a goner but thought I would try the experts here before calling it a total loss. I love this tree and it was the center of the yard when we had it landscaped four years ago. Very unique and so beautiful. Any help/advice - anything! would be appreciated!! Christine
Thanks Ron B. So I should assume it is dead? I really hate to think that but I kind of thought that would be the answer I got. Christine
My paperbark leafed out a little later than the acer palmatums. Personnally I would give yours the benefit of the doubt for another few weeks while debating what to plant in its place. If for no other reason than to make sure ya make a good choice.
Thanks Mark. That's good advice. I am going to try some fertilizer and give a few week. Replanting a new tree isn't in the budget right now anyway!
Over here the Griseum is always much later leafing out than any of the other trees Can you let us see a photograph?
Don't fertilize. Just sit and wait. Fertilizer is not medicine. You don't give fertilizer to a "sick plant," you fertilize plants that show symptoms of a nutrient deficiency. The conch is evidence of fungal activity commonly associated with dead and decaying wood. Live, reasonably healthy trees can have conchs if they have decay. Some conchs will be evidence of extensive decay that may create a potential hazard (if the tree is big enough to cause damage if it falls) but others could be associated with tiny pockets of decay from old pruned branches. If you want to know more, you'll need to ID the species of fungus that produces the conchs. A plant pathologist can help you with that, but I wouldn't worry too much about a conch on a small tree if the canopy looks healthy, As others have said, Papermark maple leafs out later than Acer palmatum and alot of other maples. If you don't see signs of swollen buds by June, I would think you have a probelm.
Thanks so much. If this rain ever stops I will post photos so you all can see what I am writing about. Thanks so much for all the help! Christine
My Griseum is still dormant, not really showing bud swell yet. The Triflorum is already leafing out. Griseum is always my last maple to leaf, so give it time, and I agree, do not fertilize. You'll be able to find someone--a local arborist, perhaps--who can ID the conk and give some advice. I lost a very old white oak last year to root rot fungus, but there are many kinds, and some treatable. I doubt this tree could do damage, so I'd wait, get advice and try to deal with it first. If my oak had fallen it would have taken much of my house and the neighbor's with it. I miss it. David
Thanks David I will take your advice. I am going to try to find an arborist and go from there. Thanks! Christine
