Tree problem - yellowing leaves
Fledgling
Posts: 16
Hello,
I'm afraid I'm new to gardening having recently moved from a house with a small lawn to one with many established plants and trees. One tree, near to the rear of the house looks to my untrained eye like a relatively young Sycamore tree.
It's starting to get big so probably needs pruning this Autumn, however one of the major branches has nothing but yellowing and dieing leaves. Most of the leaves have dropped off and any that remain look like they'll drop soon.The other branches look thick and healthy.
My concern is that this my be a disease that needs to be acted on soon before the other branches go.
I'd love to preserve the tree if possible, but this garden hasn't been maintained for nearly 20 years now. How can I tell what the problem is, and more importantly what should I do to resolve it?
Any suggestions or advice?
Thanks
Mark
Posts
If it's a sycamore I wouldn't be too worried - they're tough as old boots, that's why they become such nuisances - it'll either survive or it won't and I'd be hoping that it doesn't - they're not a tree for a garden, unless you have several acres ........ sorreeeeeee
Are you sure it's a sycamore - it might be something much nicer
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've added a few photos of the tree in question.
Thanks for the quick reply. I've added a few pictures so you might be able to tell me what it is.
OK, that looks more interesting than a bog standard common or garden sycamore - someone on here will recognise it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It looks like a variegated Norway Maple, Acer platanoides Drummondii. They are not very vigorous, and therefore vulnerable to disease and very prone to producing branches of the normal Noway Maple which is very vigorous. If that happens I would get rid, as except for fewer aphids they are nearly as bad as Sycamores. The dead branch needs removing ASAP if you want to kep it prevent infection.
Thanks for the advice Invicta2.
What do you mean by "nearly as bad as Sycamores"? The branch isn't currently dead as leaves are being produced, but the leaves look like they are struggling to hold on. Is it common for a single branch to suffer in this way?
I wanted to check that the issue was disease rather than lack of water or nutrients before I did something as drastic as cutting.
When you say "get rid", do you mean the entire tree? It's planted about 5 meters from the house at the back - is this something I should be concerned with?
hi I would take the small sideshoots off the bottom of the tree as they often take strength out of it growing, but it looks pretty healthy to me ... get some chicken compost in the autum maybe in the spring also as it,l put goodness back into the ground it good for all plants ,shrubs
its such a lovely tree I wouldn't get rid of it
Thanks for the advice annmarie2 - I tend to agree with you. I love the tree so I'm relucant to cut anything without being sure it's needed.