Fear monger or good predictor

[Ben in Kzoo]

Happy Sunday morning
Here in Michigan, we have enjoyed a week of sunny 84F weather, the trees have taken a huge step forward… just in time for 30F Tuesday night
This post is a bout a JM I have, a guy that saw a picture told me the tree is dying, identifying the top turning black as a symptom of root rot
What I identified as normal die back now has me a bit worried
Let me know which side you are with:
- die back I need to cut off after first flush hardens, put some cut paste
- root rot issue, start with a daconil root drench (or your other solution?)

Cheers all

 

[Shibui]

Any rot rot I see down here the black starts at the base of the trunk and moves upward. Other symptoms are new shoots wilting and then suddenly dying.
This looks more like die back after previous poor pruning, sunburn or maybe cold. With no shoots or buds apparent for a few nodes down from the black tips I guess that section of the trunk is dead.
Keep a close eye on how this spreads. If it continues very slowly that's OK. Wait until the leaves harden then chop close to a strong, healthy branch and seal the wound.
I would sanitize cutting tools before and after cutting this just to be safe.