AusBonsai

The trunk on my Japanese Maple is turning black and weeping. The trunk is getting blacker and spreading fast.
Any idea what is causing it?

Cheers - Craig.

Hi Craig, it's best you post a picture. It will make diagnosis a lot easier.

I hope this works...

I have had Several of mine do this and they all just got blacker and then died.

I have no idea what it is, but suspect fungus infection over winter, Once it has gone black, it is quite soft and spongy.

I have never tried this, but next time i see it will. Cut back Real hard past all blackness, Seal the cuts, Repot and remove any affected roots and then apply Fungicide.

Hope yours fares better than mine sorry

Ken

I can't cut back past where it started to go black. It started at the base of the trunk and in a week has taken over almost half of the tree.

I think this is probably the same as I get sometimes. I'm guessing it is a fungal infection that gets in through cut roots because it seems to happen only to recently repotted trees and I first see the black bark at ground level then it moves up the trunk. Soon after the leaves open the new shoots wilt and everything dies.
A couple have survived when I noticed it early and kept them a bit drier. Fungicide might help if you get it early enough but I have not tried yet.

I've had this too, but regular fungicide generally prevents it. My guess is that you'll lose the tree if it started at the base but try a strong fungicide.

I am not sure if it is the same but maybe this:
http://crataegus.com/2011/11/29/read-th ... ese-maple/