Why does it look like this sugar maple is dying?
Can anyone tell me why it looks like this apollo sugar maple appears to be dying?
The symptoms: Newly emerging leaves are shriveled and wilted. There is some blackening of the trunk. More towards the lower part of the trunk. Nearby trees of same type are fully leafed out and no problems and no blackening of the trunk.
This tree and the others like it were planted in oct 2005 and have been growing well since then, even performing excellent during the droughts and heatwaves. These trees do receieve supplemental watering if it is needed and by needed I mean if there is no rain for about a month which is likely to happen only during the summer. No visible stress at those times. I even remarked how nary a leaf has ever dropped, tattered or looked scorched during those times.
These trees are not fertilized nor is any herbicide including roundup sprayed anywhere near the tree.
A very nearby arborvitae did come down with bagworms and was treated successfully with systemic fungicide.
I noticed there is a bagworm hanging from one of the branches of the sugar maple but I think it's probably dead and I only counted one.
These trees normally leaf out rather late. I think this is the earliest I've seen them leaf out but this one looks like it is struggling. Going on 2 weeks like this. This is the only one of this particular cultivar that is in full sun. It has a much larger trunk caliper than the others.
Any help would really be appreciated. The nursery these came from is no longer in business and the likelihood of finding a replacement for these is slim to virtually none. I've learned my lesson never to plant a grouping of irreplaceable trees but sure would love to save this one.