Silver maples looking thin...

[stheis004]

So disease isn't my specialty at all but this spring I've noticed quite a few silver maples looking just generally thin. In my experience, it's been extremely rare to see one not looking super full and when one has had an issue, there's been an obvious reason. While driving around town lately I'm seeing this thinning pretty much all over the place, not every one, but many of them...any thoughts? (Oh btw, Milwaukee, WI)

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Is there a large seed crop this year? I’ve seen this imbalance in the past

 

[stheis004]

Definitely lots of seed this year

 

[CanadianStan]

Following .. a beautiful silver I cabled and reduced 2 years ago is showing mild thinning ... not promising for a massive tree

 

[JD3000]

Heavy seed year here. Allocation of resources and whatnot.

 

[ATH]

It may well fill in after seed drop.

 

[stheis004]

Heavy seed year here. Allocation of resources and whatnot.

so to dump it down a bit is this what you're saying...because they put extra energy into seed production first thing this spring, there was less energy/resources left over for leaf production, and they may still fill in throughout the year?

 

[stheis004]

and does anyone know if the heavy seed production is more a cycle or more a reaction to stress (maybe late winter being extra cold this year?)

 

[JD3000]

Can be stress induced perhaps but usually late frosts kill fruit and flowers and prevent heavy seed production

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Reproduction can be stress stimulated. One last gasp before death. Before the very large American elks...elms...lol... died it was taken as a warning sign one year to expect to see flagging later in the summer. Not a 100% but maybe 80%

On the other hand it can be very positive. The tree has lots of energy to reproduce as well as put on vegetative growth

 

[JD3000]

Ah yes, the flagging elks who start the Indy 500 before succumbing to Dutch Elk Myxomatosis....

 

[dsptech]

Super heavy seed production seen here in the NE.
In Silver and other types of Maples.

 

[stheis004]

Here’s a pretty standard example of what I’ve been seeing...

 

[SamNQ]

hey im in the same area and noticed the same problem and had a few clients concerned as to why leaves were dropping late spring/early summer. As you probably know, we had a wetter and longer spring then usual, which is a perfect combo for foliar funguses. My guy who is a phc specialist told me its most likely antracnose which doesn't kill the tree. My neighbors
mature Silver Maple had a significant leaf drop but now is looking fine and normal. Did you find any conclusions?

 

[stheis004]

hey im in the same area and noticed the same problem and had a few clients concerned as to why leaves were dropping late spring/early summer. As you probably know, we had a wetter and longer spring then usual, which is a perfect combo for foliar funguses. My guy who is a phc specialist told me its most likely antracnose which doesn't kill the tree. My neighbors
mature Silver Maple had a significant leaf drop but now is looking fine and normal. Did you find any conclusions?

Nothing conclusive really....from what I've observed, they all more or less seem to have filled in and look normal now

 

[SamNQ]

Yeah like nothing happened to them. I believe a foliar fungus was the cause.

Enjoy the day

 

[dsptech]

Was in a few Silvers today.
They all were filled in well.
Neighbors hardwood maple has spots on the leaves but he also has poor drainage and we've been pummeled by heavy rain this year.