Any idea what’s wrong?

[cozmicat]

Hey everyone, little background on this maple. Hey traded for an Alberta spruce in late April of 2021. I didn’t think anything of the maple at the time as I still had some maples that were waking up. Now that we are in the very last few days of spring in the PNW. I believe there is something actually wrong with this tree. Any ideas what is going on with it?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I see holes in those dead branches that shouldn't be there.
Did you get that brood-x cicada plague in your area?
Could have been that, could be something else. But it's worth investigating.

Can you tell us something about how you treat your tree?

 

[Bnana]

No brood X in the Pacific NorthWest (I guess that's what you mean with PNW).

 

[leatherback]

Has this been repotted? Do you know how it was kept over winter?

Feels like root issues.

 

[Shibui]

There is definitely something wrong here.
Check the base of the trunk. JM are susceptible to fungal infection that kills the cambium and the bark turns black, especially common near ground level. Symptoms are poor leaf out in spring or sudden wilt and collapse of new leaves.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Not addressing possible fungal issues, but leggy tips are more susceptible to winter-kill.

 

[sorce]

At least all they got was an Alberta eh?

What's digging in them holes find?

Sorce

 

[cozmicat]

I see holes in those dead branches that shouldn't be there.
Did you get that brood-x cicada plague in your area?
Could have been that, could be something else. But it's worth investigating.

Can you tell us something about how you treat your tree?

I don’t believe we got that plague. I have not treated this tree at all. What should I treat it with?

 

[cozmicat]

Has this been repotted? Do you know how it was kept over winter?

Feels like root issues.

He says it’s been replanted 6 months ago. He also had it for 5 years and said never cared for it. Just left it in the corner. Says it was in 3/4 sun. He also just left the wiring on. I assume her just kept it out during the winter. In that corner. He was very vague, and hasn’t responded much to questions after the fact. Did I get duped? I sure feel like it. I put this tree into quarantine. Moved it away from my other maples. Far far away.

 

[cozmicat]

At least all they got was an Alberta eh?

What's digging in them holes find?

Sorce

You should see the pic of the Alberta.... Didn’t know what I had until he reported....

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I don’t believe we got that plague. I have not treated this tree at all. What should I treat it with?

If there are no bugs right now, I wouldn't treat it for bugs.

 

[cozmicat]

Here is what the trunk looks like.

 

[sorce]

You should see the pic of the Alberta.... Didn’t know what I had until he reported....

Meh...truth truth...

DAS that look that good upon first go are a dime a dozen, and the one that actually lives to enjoy it is one in a million.

So I reckon you got the good end of this bargain!

Of course....that can only be an "I hope", since I don't know bout these here Holy Fungals.

Cheers though! It looks like you can just cut bad parts off and keep on!

Sorce

 

[cozmicat]

Meh...truth truth...

DAS that look that good upon first go are a dime a dozen, and the one that actually lives to enjoy it is one in a million.

So I reckon you got the good end of this bargain!

Of course....that can only be an "I hope", since I don't know bout these here Holy Fungals.

Cheers though! It looks like you can just cut bad parts off and keep on!

Sorce

You’re a man of reason.

the guy I traded with did say today, that he defoliated last year and root pruned and repotted this year. So hopefully just overstressed. So from a local friend and fellow bonsai nut gave the advice to remove any fertilizer and place in a morning sun only location. Also cut back anything dead and leave along for the season.

 

[Bnana]

That makes perfect sense. So just take proper care and it'll be fine.
No need to throw chemicals at it.