Question From: S. Hadgisava - Lake Zurich, Illinois, United States
Q: Dear Nancy, I have a 7 year old maple tree that had small leaves last year and has even less and smaller leaves this year. It seems to be dying but I don't know why or how to stop it. I was just going to try feeding the roots and some dry tree fertilizer. What causes something like this and how can I stop it.
A: Fertilizing a tree in stress will only stress it more. Your tree may be suffering from the effects of 2 brutal winters in a row. If it was not well watered when winter came, the damage will be even greater. Keep the soil around it moist. Do not use weed killers in the area under the canopy. Trees are broad leaf plants. When the tree looses it leaves in fall fertilize under the canopy with Espoma Tree Tone. Good Luck, Nancy
