Silver Maple Is Losing Bark And Limbs – Can I Save It?

Q: I have an old silver maple in my yard that is losing bark and has dead limbs. How can I save this beautiful tree? 

A: My answer will disappoint you, but I think you should have it taken down. Silver maple is prone to many problems. It gets leaf spots and cankers and root diseases at the drop of a hat. The limbs are brittle so they fall easily. The leaves have little color in autumn and they drop throughout the year, making a mess in a landscape. Major bark loss is almost certainly unstoppable. If the tree has any chance of falling on something valuable, like your house, your car, or you, this is a liability you don’t want to have.

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