Fire Blight on Silver Maples

Silver Maples

• Silver maple trees are not recommended for planting in many locations. Their fast growth makes their branches brittle and highly susceptible to storm damage. The deciduous trees grow up to 80 feet tall, and their shallow roots spread up to 30 feet from the trunk, making them damaging to driveways, sidewalks, basements and other hardscape areas that are within root range. The trees grow in almost all soil and light conditions, however, and are resistant to many pests and diseases.

Verticillium Wilt

• Verticillium wilt causes wilted leaves and black streaks on twigs so may be mistaken for fire blight. Leaves that are smaller than normal, browning leaf margins and unusually heavy seed production are also symptoms of Verticillium wilt. If your silver maples have that disease, ensure they receive adequate water. Prune out all infected limbs, cutting back at least 6 inches into healthy tissue and making each cut just outside a leaf set or lateral branch. Disinfecting pruning shears with household disinfectant between cuts prevents spreading the disease.

Decline

• With decline, trees' branches die back and the trees eventually die. No way exists to stop the decline; it has to be prevented before it starts. Plant silver maples in an area with good soil drainage because inadequate drainage drown the trees. Place the silver maples far enough from hardscape areas, however, so their roots will not suffocate. Water the trees in times of drought or their roots will dry and not recover.

Bleeding Canker

• Symptoms of bleeding canker, caused by Phytophthora cactorum, include sunken cankers on the bark of tree trunks and branches. The cankers ooze reddish-brown sap, the leaves wilt and branches die back. If the disease is detected early, the trees may recover once the cankerous limbs are removed. Completely remove each infected branch back to the trunk or main branch. Between cuts, disinfect the pruning saw you use. If the cankers cover too much of a tree's area to remove the affected parts, then the entire tree needs to be removed. Help prevent bleeding canker by avoiding trunks' injury and not getting the trunks wet when watering the silver maple trees.