Help! Sick tree!
 

Something has definitely gotten to my maple! This tree is full grown and
this year the leaves are COVERED in black spots. Anyone know what this is?
I don't want to lose this tree. I've posted pictures on
alt.binaries.pictures.gardens. If someone could take a look an tell me what
this is/how to treat it, I'll....I'll smooch ya! :)
Thanks in advance!

Just from looking at the pictures you posted, I'd say that your maple is an
Acer saccharum - Sugar Maple. (Also known as a Rock Maple or Hard Maple) The
black spots are most likely Leaf Scorch (a physiological disorder) and is
caused by excessive drought. There isn't to much you can do about the leaves
that is already affected. As for the smooch? Well I thought it was a good
idea, but my wife says I have to pass. ***GRIN***
(Diagnosis made from: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 5th printing;
Michael A. Dirr, page 54)


"Stu Pidasso" wrote in message
...
Something has definitely gotten to my maple! This tree is full grown and
this year the leaves are COVERED in black spots. Anyone know what this
is?
I don't want to lose this tree. I've posted pictures on
alt.binaries.pictures.gardens. If someone could take a look an tell me
what
this is/how to treat it, I'll....I'll smooch ya! :)
Thanks in advance!

As was pointed out, my above post is wrong. I was told that it is called Tar
Spots. Okay, I'm good at admitting
when I am wrong, and it looks like this is one
of those times. I apologize for the mis-diagnosis. I went to
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2005.htm and looked at the pics there
for comparison and I was wrong. It is tar spot. It says on their webpage:
"Tar spot is caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum. Spots arise in late
spring or early summer after leaves attain full size. At first the infected
tissue is light green or yellow. Then, during late summer, raised, shining
black, tarlike dots develop within the yellow spots on the upper leaf
surfaces. The lower surface of a leaf beneath a large tar spot turns brown,
but the surface beneath speckled tar spots remains yellow. Leaves with
multiple spots may wither and drop prematurely, but seldom so early or in
such quantities as to threaten the health of the tree. This disease is more
common in the forest, but may be seen in some landscape situations. Tar
spots are among the most showy and least damaging foliar diseases.
Prevention and Treatment: The fungus survives the winter in fallen leaves.
Rake up and discard the leaves in fall. For chemical control use the
fungicides recommended for control of anthracnose."
Once again I am sorry for the mis-diagnosis.
--Scott




"Gunnar Savage" wrote in message
m...
Just from looking at the pictures you posted, I'd say that your maple is
an
Acer saccharum - Sugar Maple. (Also known as a Rock Maple or Hard Maple)
The
black spots are most likely Leaf Scorch (a physiological disorder) and is
caused by excessive drought. There isn't to much you can do about the
leaves
that is already affected. As for the smooch? Well I thought it was a good
idea, but my wife says I have to pass. ***GRIN***
(Diagnosis made from: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 5th printing;
Michael A. Dirr, page 54)


"Stu Pidasso" wrote in message
...
Something has definitely gotten to my maple! This tree is full grown
and
this year the leaves are COVERED in black spots. Anyone know what this
is?
I don't want to lose this tree. I've posted pictures on
alt.binaries.pictures.gardens. If someone could take a look an tell me
what
this is/how to treat it, I'll....I'll smooch ya! :)
Thanks in advance!

Looks like tar spot on a silver maple tree. The disease is cosmetic. No big
deal usually.

--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net

"Stu Pidasso" wrote in message
...
Something has definitely gotten to my maple! This tree is full grown and
this year the leaves are COVERED in black spots. Anyone know what this
is?
I don't want to lose this tree. I've posted pictures on
alt.binaries.pictures.gardens. If someone could take a look an tell me
what
this is/how to treat it, I'll....I'll smooch ya! :)
Thanks in advance!