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Sycamore Decline?

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by Eric Wanderweg, Jun 3, 2021.

  1. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    Is anyone else seeing this in their area? All around my town, dozens of Sycamores aren’t fully leafed out. The bulk of them have 50% or less of their normal canopy. Strange... I wonder if this is from disease, another invasive pest or too early of a spring followed by a cold snap, killing the buds?
    FEA0D825-5CBA-43F7-AFFA-04361BD460E3.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2021
  2. Flamestead

    Flamestead

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    Quite noticeable in Southern Vt this year, but I had attributed it to them just being a bit slower to start due to the weather. We are at the upper limit of their range.
     
  3. jrider

    jrider

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    I noticed this last year and wondered the same. This year they seem to be more on track with the rest of the trees.
     
  4. Chud

    Chud

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    Sycamore anthracnose is a serious problem here wherever they are growing in a confined space/urban environment. I see more declining sycamores than healthy ones.
     
  5. sirbuildalot

    sirbuildalot

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    There is a huge one in the town I work in. I haven't been by it lately. I'll have to go check it out. This is from last year.

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  6. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    That looks normal for this time of year as they are about the slowest to get full leaves.
     
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  7. Flamestead

    Flamestead

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    From the interstate where I’ve been noticing them this year. This is on my commute the past 20 years and is the first year I’ve noticed them so far behind the others.
    B8423C87-FBA4-4972-BF12-34C6CF21E0C9.jpeg
     
  8. lukem

    lukem

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    They are slower than all the other trees. There's one in my neighbor's yard and it isn't even 1/3 leafed out yet.
     
  9. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    That’s what I thought at first when I noticed a couple weeks ago, but the leaves they do have are fully developed.
     
  10. Flamestead

    Flamestead

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    I chatted with a local forester this evening and he was firmly in the camp of them simply being slower to fully leaf out. Said they are a very tough tree.
     
  11. Slocum

    Slocum

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    That happened here in Indiana 3 years ago. Purdue university published a article about it saying it was attributed to it being a very cool wet spring. Has your weather been that way?


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  12. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    Spring here has been all over the place. It started early, followed by a couple cold snaps. I think in general it’s been abnormally dry for the most part. One thing I did notice is that it’s the larger trees that seem to be affected with canopy decline. I saw a few younger trees that looked fine.
     
  13. Wouldsplitter

    Wouldsplitter

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    Sycamores are always late to fill out. They don't usually fill out until half way thru June here.
     
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  14. Slocum

    Slocum

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    this is what I read couple years ago. What is happening to the local sycamore trees?
     
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  15. Slocum

    Slocum

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    I agree the leaves come on later than most, couple years ago there were small patches of leaves on the trees with big bare spots. The trees filled out over summer but at the time I thought they were dying. I don’t have much use for a sycamore but I sure like having them around. A lot of our bigger birds nest in them around here.
     
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  16. Ron T

    Ron T

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    We have one on our property. 20210606_081133.jpg
     
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  17. Ron T

    Ron T

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    Not sure how prevalent they are in this neck of the woods.
     
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