Start by checking for verticillium wilt, in case that is it:

https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/maple-acer-spp-verticillium-wilt

Yes, with that fast a decline, that would be my first concern. Unless you haven't watered it at all :-)

I bet you can peel that bark off at the bottom.

When was it planted?

What is interesting is that I moved this tree to this location because I had to remove a hosta that had HVX. From what I read, I should not plant any hosta in this spot. The JM was tucked way back in the yard where it could hardly be seen, so I mo it to that spot. I cleaned and sanitized all of the tools used prior to putting the tree there. Any causation from that?

Embothrium, thanks for the link......my other JM is not too far from this one. It’s older though. The Lion’s head was purchased late summer on one of those 50% off sales. The trunk had some damage you can see in the last picture.

gardengal, I have not really watered much this year because we have had ample rainfall.....would watering daily for a week or so help?

Like the HVX, is the ground contaminated for planting anything else, assuming I have to remove it?

debra

No, daily watering will NOT help!! In fact, it could make a bad situation worse. Watering is not a bad idea but I'd restrict it to a single slow, deep watering and see how the tree responds to that.

If it IS verticillium wilt, you should not replant that area with any other susceptible species.

I took a couple more pictures of the base of the tree. I was able to peel off the bark and I took shot of an injury(?) that was on the tree. No wonder it was 50% off! Gardengal, how long of a watering would you recommend? Here are the pictures:

debra

Your tree is a goner

Likely spring freeze put it over the edge. Borers could have been as issue.

Once that sap starts flowing, then freezes and get hit by the sun you’re in trouble. Likely already stressed by the move, the heat and excess water.

I will remove it as soon as I am able. I am recovering from hip replacement surgery and have a ways to go. So I am reliant on when my garden helper can do it. Thanks so much for your help. 🙏🏽

debra

In the next to the last shot there are what could perfectly well be honey fungus (Armillaria) rhizomorphs visible on top of the mulch, to the right of the oxalis leaf. And in the right position to account for the trunk wound and detaching bark. Although it is often stated that a whitish fungal growth will be seen when the bark comes off an Armillaria infested trunk (click on the link to an oak page that comes up on the photo page below for descriptive information about honey fungus):

https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/maple-acer-spp-armillaria-root-rot

If the tree did come from the outlet with a pathogen such as honey fungus then this episode serves to illustrate how "sad plants" aren't necessarily a good deal - you may have now introduced a nuisance destructive agent to your planting site.

Now when removing the tree, should I cut branches first and bag them immediately and then dig up the tree? I know I have to sanitize tools, shoes, gloves. What I am concerned about is the leaves are brittle and disintegrating before my eyes. Not sure how to deal with that. Also is there any treatment for the soil after removal?

debra

Read about honey fungus to see

- If it is present

- What to do about it

Thank you so much gardengal! I got all worried and twisted around about how to remove it when I read some of that info on the honey fungus. :-( So yesterday my garden helper stopped over to help me. He did most of the work! Lol.......... but we cut the branches off and bagged them. I know some people said to burn it, but my city does not allow that. Then we dug up the trunk and roots too. Hopefully we got them all. Since I had a hosta in this exact spot that got HVX after many years, then I move the tree to that location, I am not sure want to plant in that spot now, if anything. It’s shady so not sure wha t perennials would be ok there.

debra

The hosta virus is not soil related. Although the verticillum wilt is, there are many, many plants that are resistant. Columbine, hellebores, anemones, brunnera and pulmonaria have all shown resistance. Also any grasses or sedges and all conifers.

As I posted previously objects that look like honey fungus rhizomorphs are visible at the base of the trunk in the first photo showing where the bark came off. And there is just about nothing that is immune to Armillaria - there is resistant, and then there is immune. So what should have happened was poking around in the soil beneath where these things were in view and checking to see if they fit the bill, before deciding that honey fungus was not involved at all.