need help...tree disease?? (Lewiston, Auburn: houses, neighborhood, university)

[flycessna]

I just discovered that our three large maple trees in my front yard are dropping their leaves. All of the leaves are turning black and curling and crumbeling. Right now half the leaves have black spots (looks like black measles) and the other half the leaves are turning completely black. It has covered both trees completely and some of the third tree (on the side touching the 2nd tree). This has happened fast.....with in the last week. The tree had just dropped its seeds (I call them helecopters because of the way they fall), and I do not see anything else unusual...all of the bark and branches look good. The trees are only 10-12 years old.

Anyone have any ideas. I will try and take a picture. I did read about fire blight but this has not effected any of the bark or branches and everything I read about fire blight showed how it effected the bark too. I did lose 5 fruit trees several years ago because of "black knot".....this does not look like that.

thank you

[CapeCodder]

quick google search found something called "tar spots"...Cornell U has a good article on it. Sorry...for some reason it won't let me paste it here for you...maybe someone else can try.

[msina]

there are a few pics here might help.


TreeHelp.com: Trees: Maple Insects and Diseases

[Submariner]

Tar Spot: dramatic but inconsequential disease on maples. Up to one-inch diameter tar-like spots on leaves. The fungus overwinters on fallen leaves, then infects the upper surfaces of leaves in spring during moist conditions. Leaf spots are first a yellowish green but by mid to late summer a tar-like mesh of fungal and leaf tissue develops inside the yellowed area. Occasionally some leaf withering and drop occurs but this is not generally serious.

Rake up the leaves in the fall, and hit the ground with a fungicide to prevent re-infection.

[elston]

I am wondering if these trees were flooded in the recent floods that effected your property and if so, if this could be the problem.

[flycessna]

Thanks everyone. right now the tar spots look familiar but I think what I got is in the same family of disease as the tar spots. Still not confirmed I will be calling the city aborist to come look at them. The disease starts at the tips of the leaves and works its way devouring the whole leave. where the leave is black it just crumbles into a black ash/poweder like they were over cooked. I'd hate to lose them

[deerislesmile]

You may find a call to University of Maine Cooperative Extension helpful:

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Integrated Pest Management (http://www.umext.maine.edu/topics/pest.htm - broken link)

[flycessna]

So, When I used to live in Lewiston the city aborists was always couteous and helpful. He was always willing to come out to people's houses and assist them with any problems they were having. A true professional who enjoyed his job!!

Unfortunately here Auburn I was not able to get any help from the city aborists. He basically said it was a private matter and to call a tree company.

So I called Lewiston's aborists and explained to him about the problem we were having and how I was not able to identify the disease,(and now other maple's in the neighboirhood have it also). And wouldn't you know it, As usual he was more than willing to come out and look at them which he did the other day. Come to find out he can not ID the disease. He called today and told us the state was sending the state aborists to come look at all the trees in the neighborhood to help identify whats going on.

[elston]

Wow! What excellent service and shame on the Auburn aborist..his lack of information could just cost the city of Auburn some trees if it is a new disease .... his lack of coordination with the state and with Lewiston....could prove to be expensive lesson in defining ones job too narrowly!

[quiet walker]

Originally Posted by elston

... his lack of coordination with the state and with Lewiston....could prove to be expensive lesson in defining ones job too narrowly!

Ah, the old "It's not my job" That's what was going on at work when I retired a couple of years ago, and a major part of the reason I left.