Question
QUESTION: I live in southeast MIchigan and I have had this autumn blaze red maple for four years.  In spring 2008, just as it was starting to show some buds we refreshed the mulch in our landscaping.  Shortly after that, the buds stopped.  They never blossomed.  The local nursery advised us to put some fertilizer spikes in remove the mulch around the base of the trunk.  We did, but it appears that the tree has died.  So far this spring I have seen no budding, (it may be too early).  What happened and is it a lost cause?

ANSWER: Matt, one of two things occurred. Either the landscapers piled the mulch too high around the trunk or the mulch contained a disease which spread to the subsoil. Of course, this is strictly speculation on my part, but it is not uncommon if the mulch is infected. I cannot say for sure that it was, but it sure is coincidental that the tree began to deteriorate once the mulch was replaced.

The only way to confirm this is to take a soil sample from around the tree to your local garden center for evaluation. They can test it for disease.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the tree will probably not recover. It definitely should have buds at this stage of spring. I would wait two more weeks to see if the tree buds. If not, it will have to be replaced.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We replaced the mulch throughout our landscaping, (six cubic yards worth), and no other plants or trees were affected.  If the mulch was infected could it have had an adverse effect on this one tree because of the type of tree it is or is it possible that only part of the mulch was infected?   By the way, the local nursery suspected the mulch was piled too high also, but what is "too high"?

Answer
This particular tree may have been more susceptible to the specific disease in the mulch. But as i said in my initial response, I cannot say with certainty that it was a disease. I can only list it as one of the possibilities.

Mulching too high around a tree can girdle the tree, resulting in it losing its ability to absorb oxygen and water. When mulching around trees or shrubs, it is important to spread the mulch no higher than 1"-2" above the surface of the subsoil. Otherwise, not only will it girdle the tree, but it will also be too thick for water to reach the roots. Finally, since mulch holds in moisture, piling it around the trunk can potentially cause the bark to rot, and will kill the tree.

I hope this clarifies the first answer. Have a great weekend.

Mike