this is its second season ... its a recent transplant???

looks to my z5 eyes.. that it got frosted within the last few weeks ... the damage only appearing when the temps started rising..

we.. here just north of toledo.. have had a slow cool spring ... i doubt its heat scorch ...

flower aborting is typical of frost .. the soft tissue just cant take temps too low .. even if the damage to the hardier leaves is minor ...

do you have that famous OHIO clay... how did you plant it??? on a berm???

is it mulched ...

how big when you got it ...

ball and burlap.. or potted..

were the roots untangled at planting???

how about a pic of the whole tree ...

ken

Guignardia leaf blotch disease?

Very likely fungal. Maybe it came with the plant. Guignardia perhaps, but the cultural controls are all the same. Your County Extension Agent surely has the best chemical control (if any) for your area. In the future all litter must be cleaned up so spores don't overwinter.

Dan

do you have that famous OHIO clay... how did you plant it??? on a berm??? - I do have clay in my backyard but you have to go down about a foot to get to it. When I was planting my buckeye I didn't notice any when I dug the hole.

do you have that famous OHIO clay... how did you plant it??? on a berm???

is it mulched ... - No

how big when you got it ... - About 5 1/2 to 6 feet tall. It's almost 6 1/2 feet now.

ball and burlap.. or potted.. - Potted

were the roots untangled at planting??? - Yes

how about a pic of the whole tree ... - I'll work on that one for you.

Now that I read more about Guignardia leaf blotch disease I think it might be that! It didn't start until we got a good rain and now it's everywhere. Any ideas on what to treat it with?

but we are always back to my question.. which you guys need to address ...

the primary injury versus the secondary result

perhaps.. the cause and the effect ....

can the tree have been hit with a hard frost.. causing injury.. and the result be the impact by the blotch ..

in other words.. would an otherwise healthy ... unfrosted tree.. have developed the blotch ....

in another post.. i suggested the premise that a hail storm damages the leaves.. and later in the season.. things happen to the those damaged leaves.. based on the opportunity ....

if that were the case... then treatment of the secondary injury is probably not necessary ... as it will not occur the following year.. but for the hail ...

i once heard. that homeowners were the worst of polluters.. based on the notions of improper application and un-needed usage..

why are we always jumping to tell them how to use chemicals [or naturals].. IF THE PROBLEM DOES NOT NEED TO BE FIXED ....

if it is a terminal disease.. get rid of the tree ...

if its a recurrent systemic problem ... maybe fix it ...

but if its a once in a lifetime event followed by secondary problems.. why waste the time.. money.. and chemical exposures.. to treat something that is transitory in nature....

i am trying to express an idea.. and i am really struggling..

anyone have any idea where i am trying to go with this... and all the funny replies aside.. do you agree??

why is our answer never something like: yes it is blotch.. or rust.. but YOU DO NOT NEED TO DEAL WITH IT ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: third link down

"(c)ould an otherwise healthy ... unfrosted tree.. have developed the blotch" - yes

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From the UMass Extension bulletin on the subject:

"Collect and dispose of fallen leaves to reduce inoculum available to begin new infections the following spring. Prune to increase air circulation and sunlight penetration, thus minimizing the periods of leaf wetness."

and, if fungicides are needed...

"Begin applications as buds open to protect leaves from extensive primary infections. If adequate prevention of the primary infections is achieved in early spring, then repeated additional treatments are usually not necessary to control the secondary infection cycles, unless there are extended periods of cool and wet in early summer weather."

OK, let's go back.

There is *@ kite string around the trunk. There is the &%@# bamboo stake still there. I see little mulch. I see in the middle of a lawn with lots of moisture available. We have no pictures of the trunk entering the ground.

Prime candidate for fungal attack. Why? I suspect improperly planted. I suspect weakened tree. I suspect too much moisture around.

The limited fact pattern inhibits obtaining a good diagnosis here. If the tree is improperly planted this is the first problem (hint: if you have to ask 'how do I know if the tree is improperly planted?', the chances are good it is.). A fungicide is needed, then cultural controls for the fungus need to be applied. The County Extension Agent surely has seen this numerous times. Take in a branch, take a few more pictures, and go in. Copy this thread's URL into your phone or on a flash drive.

Dan

Thanks all for the help. I had to tie it to a stake. It was beginning to grow crooked. As for moisture, it is on top of a slight decline. Water does not drain there. I am going to call the County Extension Agent today. Again thank you for the help.