I have a Silver Queen Maple in our front yard. We planted it about 8 years ago and it has flourished until now. We live 20 miles outside of Houston, Tx and we're had almost no rain and temps in the 90s. About a month ago we had an entire week with a lot of hot, dry winds. The very next week the leaves started turning brown and within 3 or 4 days all the leaves were brown and shrivled. I looked at them and there's no spots or holes. They are all just a uniform brown and very dry. I took some pictures and attached them. I did a lot of research and saw something about "Leaf Scorch". This sounds like it may could be this but I would be welcome to any suggestions. I can't believe that a tree would die in less than a week. We drove around the whole subdivision and I haven't seen another "dead" tree. Note, 2 magnolias on our street are turning brown and wilting but not all brown like ours. We've been watering it every evening for about a week. I'm hoping we can save this tree. I've loved it since we planted it. Thanks!
Unless the soil is dry beneath the top few inches it would seem it didn't get dry at the root, since the grass is quite green. Suspect it developed a problem with the roots, whatever that might be there - pathogenic fungus? nematodes? - and that is what caused it to be damaged by the weather conditions. Silver maple is a large brittle tree unsuitable for situations such as this was planted in, so if you end up replacing this one do try something else. If you want a large tree with silver leaf undersides maybe a silver linden would grow there. This is a much better choice.
Hi Veronica, I think leaf scorch is unlikely. The tree has been doing fine in more or less the same conditions up 'til now, right? In Europe we take a different view of this tree, here it is often planted as a valued ornamental. It is more brittle than some maples, but not the most brittle of trees in windy conditions. (Lindens suffer, for example, more breakage by far. Yet we consider these highly desirable street trees...) So I don't find your tree "unsuitable," let's certainly hope it recovers. Alex's suggestion is a good one. Take a sharp knife, and scratch the bark on a twig. If it is green underneath, the twig is still alive. If not, you can prune it off. As you advance towards the thicker branches, if the area underneath the cut stays brown, then I'm afraid your tree, sadly, has died. If you find green, or the beginnings of green buds, a light feed, wait and hope. I don't know what might have done it in, but perhaps it was already infected with some pathogen or other and the drying winds weakened it further, leading to rapid death. This is not unknown with Silver Maples. Best of luck, -E
There is no green at all. The inside of the branch is a uniform pale yellow. We just had 2 big storms in the past 2 days. I can't believe all the leaves haven't fallen off yet. I'll have to wait and see what happens. Thanks for all the help. If it doesn't make it we'll look better into what kind of tree to put there.
