Hello Carol:
Our 12 year old Red Maple in the front yard at our house did not fall over during the hurricanes last fall but did have small branches torn off by the wind. The ground was VERY wet and we did have a large tree on the side of the house get uprooted.

This Maple also went into shock and did not loose the new growth from that experience during the fall. This spring it did have some bloom and is now loosing some of the end twigs from the branch with the new seeds still on it.

Just seams to me it needs a good shot of a fertilizer of some sort but we don't want to shock the roots or burn it up. It had leaves on it all year and only bloomed on some branch ends. It is very thin and droopy.

Any idea you may have would be a help.
Thanks,
Linda

Linda,
The description you have provided seems to me to be of a maple tree in distress and/or decline. Unfortunately, some of the damage trees received during the hurricanes has resulted in a long term decline. Some trees were twisted or pulled out of the ground without obvious symptoms showing in the above ground sections of the tree. The problem that occurs in this situation is possibly due to air pockets. Though roots need oxygen, the occurrence of large air pockets around roots desiccates the roots, the roots die and possible post infection of insects and/or diseases can occur, thereby killing the tree.

However, I cannot say whether the decline you are seeing is a result of such damage. Trees are just susceptible to many damaging factors in urban/suburban environments. Here is a list of just a few things that could damage trees or contribute to declines with or without a storm:
--Lightening can strike a tree and the damage will be subtle, the decline will be slow.

--Over or under irrigation can damage roots eventually leading to decline and death.

--The application of herbicides such as found in weed & feed fertilizer products in the trees root zone can contribute to a tree’s decline.

--Adding or storing soil under canopy will smother roots.

-- Driving under the canopy or anything that damages, cuts, or disturbs roots can lead to long term problems.

The lack of good bloom is not always an indication of poor health, many trees have an alternate blooming cycle, but this fact combined with poor growth is an indication of problems. The drooping of leaves and twigs is possibly an indication of an infestation of an insect called a twig borer. The female of the species lays her eggs at the end of a branch and cuts the twig off for the egg to incubate and hatch on the ground. Normally, a healthy tree can withstand a slight to moderate infestation.

Linda, at this point if the tree is continuing to decline, I would recommend that seek the services of an arborist. Arborists are trained professionals who can evaluate your tree and recommend a course of action. Dr. Ed Gilman of the University of Florida has a great list of factors to help hire an arborist, a few of the pertinent facts are listed, the complete tree care site can be seen at http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/Maturetreecare/index.htm

Hiring an Arborist

Arborists make a career of caring for trees in urban and suburban landscapes. They work for companies commonly referred to as tree experts, tree services, tree care, arborists, tree specialists, and others. Here are few tips for selecting a company to work with your trees:

--Avoid arborists who advertise they top trees. Ask the arborists if they will top your trees. If they say yes, don't use them.

--Have more than one arborist look at the job, and get a written proposal specifying the work to be done.

--Ask for and check local references.

--Be sure the company has the appropriate licenses, insurance, and certifications. Some communities require special permits, insurance or certifications for all arborists to practice in the community.

--Beware of an arborist who suggests removal of living trees. Removal of living trees is sometimes necessary, but should be considered the last resort after all other options have been considered.

--Determine if the arborist is certified with the International Society of Arboriculture in Champaign Illinois. Visit the ISA website for a list of certified arborist by zip code at http://www.isa-arbor.com/

--Ask for verification of personal and property liability insurance and worker's compensation (or a waiver of worker's compensation).

--Low price is a poor gauge of a quality arborist. Often the better ones are more expensive because of more specialized equipment, more professional training, and insurance costs.

Thank you for your question and Happy Gardening,
Carol