Hey NB

TarHeels&Rebels

You've have some sort of official tree expertise, correct?

Is this just spring frost damage and my trees will be ok or is it something more serious?  Are the suckers normal or is it a sign that the top is dying off?  Because the top 1/3 has died off on one tree and the local Extension dude just said, "yep, doesn't look too good, better get a new one."  Gee, thanks ever so much for your help, mister.

PS - excuse the sad, grayed out pine straw.  It gets done twice a year.

Those top three branches you see are dead above the bark weirdness.

 

 

Marisbiss

It is hard to say not seeing the entire tree. As far as frost damage, it typically will happen to buds but not the bark, it looks like it got a disease or perhaps damaged in that one area (maybe wind?) and is trying to heal.  Suckers (from the bottom) can happen at any time, and they are not always explained.  If the top is dead then you may start to get a lot of sucker growth right below the dead area.  These will sort of look like regular branches but will grow directly upwards and be softer and faster growing.    Since it is such a small tree I would probably just replace it because if the top 1/3 died it is going to try and grow from the areas that are still alive (those suckers) and it will lose all nice form that it could have eventually had and also make weak branches.

TarHeels&Rebels

Frost damage to bark is actually somewhat common in maples when there's a late spring freeze (water expansion causes the bark to separate from the flesh) and two pros - both the Extension guy and the local gardening radio show guy on NPR - have suggested it, but couldn't say with any certainty.  That's why I asked NB, who I think is a certified arborist, her take on it to be sure it's not a disease.  I don't want to uproot trees for just a cosmetic problem.

I removed the suckers weeks ago - the pics are old - and the trees are happy now with lots of new growth, but I wanted confirmation that suckers from the base aren't a bad sign.  The tree with the dead top has sent out a new central leader nearly paralleling the now-dead one.

~NB~

You're absolutely right about frost damage and bark splitting being very common in all of the new red maple cultivars flooding the market. Add sun scald to the list as well. It produces a similar canker.

I am more concerned about the trunk shape. It seems to become more narrow as it disappears into the ground??! THAT symptom, combined with the canker, the mulch over the lower trunk, and considering the genus, I think you should do a little excavation around the root collar. Did you buy the tree in a plastic container? I would almost bet you have stem girdling roots constricting the vascular tissues just below the soil. Do some digging and take more photos!

TarHeels&Rebels

As soon as you mentioned the pine straw, I realized I was guilty.  I'm so particular about volcanoes when I see them at shopping malls and such, but here I am, ignoring the plank in my own eye!

There's no flare at all at the bases of the trees.  Straight down until there's roots.  I have no idea where my spade is, but so I just grabbed my gardening gloves and pulled back the soil some with my fingers.  On one tree - the dead-ish one - I found a root not even an inch off the trunk that took a sharp right turn curling in a wide circle around.   I couldn't see much on the healthier one.  And yes, they're from the big box stores in plastic containers 

I've been doing lots of reading trying to identify these guys' problems and it seems like they're gorgeous, but maybe not a great choice.  These specifically are October Glory.  The NPR radio guy said that maples don't love our clay soil here, while the Extension guy said maples are fabulous here. Hmph.

Can you recommend substitutes?  7b/8a, full sun.  I can name a whole host of trees that technically "do" here, but I'd like something that does well.  We need street trees because of course the builder cleared the land, but mature size is a consideration.  You can see here how closely the townhomes are situated.  I picked the maples because they weren't supposed to be terribly wide. 

Looking up native trees, almost every one of them needs moist soil, and unh-uh - I am not playing the watering game, not after last summer's drought and water bills.  I have volunteer oaks, sweet gums and tulip poplars in the backyard and surrounding field I could move, and obviously they're happy here if they're wild volunteers, but they'll get huge!  One, two, three.  There are many great Magnolia varieties, but there seems to be some illness going around here right now - all across the area, the leaves are drooping, then yellowing, then falling off.

I'm just a girl who wants a pair of happy trees 

TarHeels&Rebels

Know anything about a Florida maple?  Seems to be of the same size but more heat tolerant.

~NB~

TarHeels&Rebels:

Know anything about a Florida maple? 

Ack! Please speak Latin!

Ok, about the Maples in clay soil... Maples are NOT particular trees. They are highly adaptible. The very fact that there are a zillion varieties and they are the overwhelming choice in commercial plantings speaks volumes to this. They are easy to grow and cheap to replace. However, as you know, they have their share of issues... and I know you are astute enough that I don't have to beat the point to death. 

Replacements: I try to select less common trees than Maples.

Bigger trees- Halesia, Oxydendrum, Davidia, Cladrastis, Nyssa

Smaller trees- Stewartia, Amelanchier, Chionanthus, Heptacodium, Franklinia

I think these will all work well in your area.

~NB~

~NB~:

TarHeels&Rebels:

Know anything about a Florida maple? 

Ack! Please speak Latin!

Ok, I found the Florida Maple; I see it is a small growing Acer saccharum, or Sugar Maple. It's fine if you want a Maple. My opinion is that Maples are great for making furniture and cabinets and the world doesn't need more Maples, but I know how much people love them.

TarHeels&Rebels

~NB~:

~NB~:

TarHeels&Rebels:

Know anything about a Florida maple? 

Ack! Please speak Latin!

Ok, I found the Florida Maple; I see it is a small growing Acer saccharum, or Sugar Maple. It's fine if you want a Maple. My opinion is that Maples are great for making furniture and cabinets and the world doesn't need more Maples, but I know how much people love them.

I was actually going to post the Latin and decided not to lol.  I know how important it is in the plant world.  And I had 7 years of it in school, so I'm actually a Latin nerd myself.

I have no particular attachment to maples, just the mature size.  I've gotta run an errand now, but I'll look up the trees you posted later.  I only recognized by name the Stewartia and Franklinia - the rest are new to me.

~NB~

Stewartia is one of my favorite small trees, but they're way pricey.

You might also check into Evodia and Laburnum.