Dead Branches on Maple

[Dan Cobb]

I won't see this tree in person until tomorrow, but it's supposedly a 22 yr old maple. I was planning to check for an obvious stem girdling root as a cause for the dying branches. Since the owner knows the age of the tree, they likely planted it and street view shows it may be over mulched. Doesn't seem to have much of a flare either. Other advice?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

SGRs are always an easy bet and place to start

 

[colb]

I won't see this tree in person until tomorrow, but it's supposedly a 22 yr old maple. I was planning to check for an obvious stem girdling root as a cause for the dying branches. Since the owner knows the age of the tree, they likely planted it and street view shows it may be over mulched. Doesn't seem to have much of a flare either. Other advice?View attachment 76766

Looks like an acute junction where the two main leads meet, so about 1/4 of each leader is probably dead, which does not do much for getting circulation to the tips... By itself, that would not be enough to make the tree look like that, but if it was an entry for a pathology or combined with girdling roots it would certainly not be helpful.

 

[flushcut]

I'm guessing that tree is older than 22 years.

 

[southsoundtree]

Don't sweat the why too much, it's going to die, imo.


People sometimes are all hung up on why their tree died/ is dying after years of neglect.

 

[JD3000]

Lots of lichens on branches, been thin and declining for years.

Firewood.

 

[Dan Cobb]

Tree had an absolutely horrible stem girdling root. It's now firewood.

Thanks for the responses.