Remove or monitor?

[macrocarpa]

This sugar maple has been identified to have Biscogniauxia canker and dieback (hypoxylon canker).

It is near two houses. It has a full canopy.

Would you just get rid of it now or monitor and see how it does? My concern is the stability of the tree even if it does have a full canopy.

I would say 20% of the circumference is affected.

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/biscogniauxia-canker-and-dieback-of-trees.html

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Part of the equation for me would be how much more difficult it would be to remove if the tree became unstable to climb…? Or is it already?

But if it can be flopped… could press the snooze button on it?

 

[Shadowscape]

If it can be flopped....

If it can be flopped, I would be inclined to flop it while it still had some reasonable hinge wood to flop it with.

 

[KTSmith]

Part of the problem with these "soft rot" (a misnomer to me) decays is that substantial loss of structural strength can occur with little overall decline in apparent health with respect to crown dieback. Sugar maple don't seem to go as fast as Norway maple in these parts.

 

[oldoakman]

Willow and water oaks can get real crispy quickly with hypoxolon. Major cause of mortality in my area.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Sugar maples are fast growing, short lived, crappy, fungi susceptible trees here.

I’d not hesitate to take it out. Opinions vary of course.