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Is the trunk on my maple tree rotting?

9 years ago

About 3 years ago we had an early snow and the center branch of my maple tree broke off. I made a clean cut and painted it with that black stuff. the last three years it has been doing great and even started to fill in the center area. This spring about 2-3 weeks ago when it leaved out I notice many of the new fill in areas were not getting leaves and just today I see they are turning yellow and even the stub of the old branch is turning yellow and it is going into the main trunk. I don't know what to do?

Here are a couple pictures of the area along with a full view showing the rest of the tree looks great.

Please help me know what to do to save my prize tree!

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Comments (5)

magpiepix 5b/6a
9 years ago
I don't know, but I would do some searches on common JM diseases (verticillium wilt, etc.) and see if you can figure it out. Some diseases can be treated with an anti-fungal spray or mix.

Good luck!
Mike McGarvey
9 years ago
That stub is your problem. It probably should be removed, although it's a little late.
Mike
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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
9 years ago
Mike, what do you think? I'd remove that stub (look up proper pruning cut before doing so) and then have an urge to spray with something....maybe an anti fungal, I dunno. regardless I would clean my pruning sheers afterwards.
Mike McGarvey
9 years ago
It looks like the stub is dying and nothing else. I'd still saw it off so the encapsulation process can start as soon as possible this spring. As it is, it's going to take a awhile and look bad the whole time. The broken branch should have been cut where the branch originated rather than leaving a stub.
When pruning Japanese Maples, the branching pattern should be of the utmost consideration so you aren't left with a dying stub and congested branches.
Mike
sands4us
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone....I took the pictures to the local nursery and was shown where to cut and told not to spray anything on the cut, just let it heal naturally. Yes I definitely now know my mistake. I cut it off yesterday and the inside wood looked pretty clear and clean, but I guess I won't know for sure if it is going to make a full recovery for a while.

Thanks again for the help!

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