Hello all, I was searching the web for info on my maple and found this place, hope you all can help. Last year around this time I noticed some dead limbs just around the time the tree began to bud. The tree seems to be thinning out with more dead limbs this year. I've had it for 3 years in the same place which has full sun. Where should I start? Do I cut off the dead limbs, is their any fertilizer I can use? I can take pics to post. Thanks Gene Indianapolis, IN
Remove the dead branches. Are they branches or twigs? Our red maple loose lots of twigs inside the canopy every year, but new ones grow so it doesn't really seem to thin out. Check to see if there is any insect damage to your branches, bark chewed off etc.
They are branches for sure. Would insect damage show up this time of the year? It's still cold here. After reading up on the Maple over the past hour or so it seems as if the problem may be the fact that I have it planted in an open area, it gets all kinds of winds. Could this be the problem? If so is it to late in the spring to dig it up and move it as long as I don't damage the roots? I'm going to try to post pics when the wife gets home with the camera.
They don't like the wind much. I don't know what kind of tree damaging insects you've got there, sorry. Trees are slow, so damage done last year might effect it now. A photo would be helpful. If you want to move it try to get the entire root clump up, and water well after moving and for some time afterwards.
The damage is all one one side, yes? Does the wind take well on that side? If so, you'd best move it. The bark damage seems to be healing well, so it shouldn't cause any problems. If this was my tree, I'd move it to somewhere more sheltered and prune away the damage. The canopy will probably rectify itself after some time. If not, you'll have an interesting-looking little maple growing in your yard.
