3 Common Issues Affecting Red Maples & How to Deal With Them

August 30, 2018

One of the most beautiful things about the landscape here in Pennsylvania is the abundance of red maple trees. As the Keystone State’s most common tree variety, red maples can be seen filling entire forests in the PA wilderness and are routinely seen across the lawns of local homes.

Because red maples can be such a sight for sore eyes, it’s all the more important to be aware of problems that can affect them so that you can find a solution to any issue before it gets worse. Before you need to reach out and call your premier source for tree care services in Morrisville with an emergency, take note of some of the more common potential threats so that you can prepare yourself to combat them.

1. Weak Trunks and Branches

Compared to other North American tree species, maple trees have rather weak trunks and limbs. Not only does this make maples more prone to breaking during severe storms and collapsing under the weight of snow, but it also makes them more susceptible to knicks and scratches from pruning shears or lawn mowers, which in turn can invite infestations of fungi or pests.

Schedule routine prunings for your maples with our tree services in Southampton to help them maintain their balance and center of gravity to avert stress on the trunk or tree limbs.

2. Surface Roots

The roots of maple trees grow rather close to the surface of the ground. While this in itself is not a problem, this characteristic of maple trees frequently causes them to erode sidewalks and driveways as the roots grow from underneath. If this happens, you might have to remove these problematic roots, which can threaten the health of the tree if the root in question is of significant size.

Be sure to cut any potentially damaging tree roots before they grow too large for their own good.

3. Verticillium Wilt

During the summer, maples are particularly vulnerable to Verticillium wilt, a soil-bound fungus that causes the leaves to yellow or wilt in concentrated areas. In most cases, you can ward off the fungi with special fertilizers, soil treatments, and regular tree pruning.

Are you interested in booking an appointment with our team? Contact All The Above Tree Service today by calling us at 215-645-1379 for a free quote!