Question
Gall disease
I live in southeastern Michigan and I have several maple trees in my yard. They are approximately four years old. They all appear to have gall disease however a few seem to be dying. The ones that are dying only half of the tree has leaves and what is left is just bare branches. I have read previous questions to you about gall disease and you answered that it does not kill a tree. Do my maples have additional diseases? I had a company come out and they told me gall disease will eventually kill my tree and the growths on the leaves are from spiders. Based on what I've read on your website I am not confident with this company and they want to charge me $45 a month to apply a spray that includes an oil.
Please help me. Thank you for you time.
AnswerLooks like a problem with the root system--I would guess the roots are not growing out from the original planting hole. Sometimes when a hole is dug in clay soils with an auger the sides of the hole become smooth and the hole becomes an in the ground pot.The roots then grow in a circle and choke each other out. The roots can not expand and the foliage will die back since the roots can not support the amount of foliage. I do not think the galls are the main problem but have attacked the weaken tree. With out dogging around the tree and checking the root system I can not tell for sure by looking at the picture but that would be my leaning.
