What's Wrong With This Tree?

angelatc

Picture hopefully below. Tree looks healthy, but leaves...not so much.

shadytrake

It is commonly known as Tar Spot disease.

Management

Since tar spot fungi overwinter in fallen leaves, the most effective management technique is to rake and destroy leaves in the fall. This will reduce the number of overwintering “spots” (containing the fungal reproductive structures) that can infect new leaves the following spring. Neighbors should also rake and destroy infected leaves to be effective. Mulching leaves will destroy many of the spots before they mature, but the mulch pile should be covered or turned before new leaves begin to emerge in the spring.
Applications of fungicides are possible when high levels of infection become unacceptable, but control of tar spot is challenging, especially on mature maples. In addition, if others in a neighborhood setting are not managing the disease on their trees with fungicides or proper sanitation, the act of spraying may be a waste of time and money.
More information on tar spot disease can be found in the MSU Diagnostic Clinic Maple Tar Spot factsheet.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/why_do_...ves_have_spots

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angelatc

Thanks so much!!! There's a young maple a only few yards (measurement, not neighbors) away, and it isn't infected. So hopefully that means it isn't all over the neighborhood, and if we get rid of our leaves in the fall, we can shake it.

sdsester

You know, dormant oil sprays are cheap, relatively safe for the environment compared to fungicides and insectisides, and can really help against some fungal and insect infections. A commercial company will not charge that much to thoroughly spray all your trees either in the fall or in the spring before flower or leaf buds burst.

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oh'mike

This summers heat and drought have stressed many trees---so fungus attacks are happening to trees that would fight it off in a wetter year.

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sdsester

Yup! And people with good intentions race with garden hose cranked on full to add water and do not realize they are atomizing and sending spores in the dry soil airborne.

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