Possible Verticillium Wilt Maple Tree

3 years ago

Our beautiful JM maple is dying. I think verticillium wilt. I noticed our dog has been digging about a couple of feet near it. Yesterday I noticed a couple of weird Beatles on a leaf and a little white powder.
I'm heartbroken. I’m going to the nursery to pick up organic soil today and fertilize on Tuesday in hopes to save it. Advice is certainly appreciated. Thank you.

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
As I mentioned in response to your previous comment yesterday on another thread, I seriously doubt this is Verticillium wilt. The leaves look a little crispy and stressed but not dried and wilted as they would with VW. VW also has a tendency to take young Japanese maples out overnight, so they look like they've been hit with a blow torch. Lots of sun, high summer heat and watering issues can produces the exact same appearance. It doesn't need "organic" soil (whatever that is) or fertilizer under these conditions and they won't help anyway. Just some regular deep, slow watering as your weather dictates.

btw, VW is a fatal pathogen and there is no cure. If the trees does have it - again, something I seriously doubt - there is nothing you can do to save it. Also it is very helpful to include your geographic location with any plant related posting as that makes a huge difference in the appropriateness of the responses.
BillMN-z4a
3 years ago
Jeanine,

Also, any history of conditions. How it was planted, drought conditions or extended dry spells. Watering regiment during those times. Extreme winter conditions. All these things can show up negatively the following season.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
your tree is stressed... fert is NEVER a response to stress...

and i have no idea what a top coat of organic soil will do for it.. but this wont hurt anything,.. so if it makes you happy.. go for it..

take a hand trowel.. and dig a few 3 to 6 inch holes around the trunk out a few feet.. AND FIND OUT ABOUT WATER AT ROOT DEPTH... report back... if its bone dry at root depth.. put the hose on a trickle for a few hours.. and give it a good deep drink.. moving the hose every hour or so....

where are you. big city name .. any out of the ordinary drought or anything..

the only clue you have.. is the dog... could he e peeing under it... why is he scratching round... when you dig the small holes.. you should notice a urine smell if that is possibly an issue...

also.. snap a pic of the trunk where it goes in the ground... is it telephone poled.. or is the root flare apparent?? .. being planted too deep could be the issue....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=root+flare&t=ftsa&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

ken