Question
I have two Autumn blaze maples that were planted around 3 yrs ago and they have never turned to the pretty red autumn color in the fall and this year some of the branches does not have any leaves on them, but they do not show any sign of diseases. I live in south MS.The trees are 20' tall. Please help me I don't want to lose them

Answer
Nancy:
Temperatures can influence the color, particularly how cool it gets during the fall. Available moisture in the soil can affect this too.  Branches w/o leaves may indicate a problem. Using your fingernail, scratch those branches near the ends to see if there is any green color beneath the bark. Try this in several places.  If the branches are brown beneath and snap when bent rather than flexing, then the branch is probably dead. Mulching around trees can be useful.  It should not be directly up against the tree trunk and it should not be over 3 inches deep.  Be sure to keep the trees well watered during hot/dry periods and also avoid damaging the bark by string trimmers and lawn mowers. These things create wounds where disease organisms and insects can gain entry into the tree.
Regards
Steve