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janetmckeag · August 2021

I have four mature Sycamore trees in my garden, two have solid green coloured leaves the other two have a lighter coloured variegated leaf. All the trees came into leaf in the spring but then the leaves on the variegated trees began to discolour, wither and drop. The other two trees seem unaffected. The affected trees are now totally bare. Can anyone advise on what the problem could be and how I can save these trees? Thank you

Dovefromabove · August 2021

Hi @janetmckeag and welcome to the forum 😊

can you show us some photos of your trees and where they’re growing please?

Fairygirl · August 2021

I wonder if they've just succumbed to the dry spring weather many people experienced, especially if they're all quite close together.
Variegated forms are less tough too.

janetmckeag · August 2021

Thank you for your comments.
The trees were in situ when we bought the house 32 years ago and are in a line with gaps of 8 - 12 feet between them. They are on the boundary of the garden, next to a 6 foot fence adjoining a neighbours garden.
Before the leaves drop they develop pinkish/ light brown patches - not the usual Autumn colour.
When I noticed the problem progressing I did try watering the trees every day ( fortunately we are not on a water meter) but as the weather has been showery for the last couple of weeks, and as the watering did not seem to have any effect, I haven’t continued with it.

Fairygirl · August 2021

Sounds like it's stress related. Quite small distances between them too, especially if they're as mature as that.
Watering every day would only be effective if it was gallons and gallons at a time, and often with that kind of stress, the time between the problems starting, and the effects being visible, is often months, and as much as a year down the line.
Showery rain isn't likely to penetrate a tree canopy either. It has to be heavy, persistent rain to get through

janetmckeag · August 2021

Thanks again for replying.
I don’t think I’m going to be very popular with family and friends when I say I hope we get some persistent heavy rain.

I think I’ll start putting the hose pipe on them again as I don’t want to lose them - they are actually more attractive to look at than the other two Sycamores that appear to be flourishing, although they all attract lots of wildlife.
The man next door who has been demanding for years that I remove or severely pollard the trees will be pleased though if they can’t be saved.

Fairygirl · August 2021

He can demand all he wants @janetmckeag, but unless he goes down the route of 'they constitute a hedge' with the council, he's on a hiding to nothing. I hope he doesn't start 'pruning'. We had someone on the forum recently who was having terrible problems with a neighbour in that respect. Just be vigilant.

They can all certainly be pollarded, but it's quite a big job, and I'm assuming they're sizeable trees.
We had a lovely one in a previous garden which caused no problems because of it's location. The new owners had someone hack it back - not a tree surgeon, just a hacker. It's ruined it. Very sad. It was beautiful with it's autumn colour and a haven for all sorts, as you say. The tree creeper in the new year was a particular favourite.

bédé · August 2021

As they say in Yorkshire: "if in doubt, do nowt". They should be better next year.

Too much strong sun can burn sensitive young leaves. White in the variegation is particularly UV sensitive. Was the problem more acute in the white parts?

janetmckeag · August 2021

Thank you bede for your response. The discolouration on the leaves seems to occur in patches all over, not specifically on the lighter parts.

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