Young maples under stress?

[sapman]

I was working in the woods today, and noticed that almost every sugar maple under 4-6" had browning, curling leaves. I'm worried that these young ones have a disease or something. Many of them are to be future tapping trees. I didn't see anything of tappable size with this problem, except for maybe some lower branches.

Anyone else see this?

Thanks,
Tim

[MaplePancakeMan]

I don't think its disease, its happening to some of them here too, i believe its a combination of the heavy rains and then no rain then more heavy rain and then no rain again. Its kinda like a tomato when it gets inconsistent watering it will split. I believe the case is true with all trees, inconsistent water supply causes stress and that's probably the trees natural response. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[brookledge]

I think what you have is anthracnose.
I have it on many of my trees this year
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3048.html
Keith

[sapman]

Thanks for the input guys, and the website! Sounds like I don't have to worry about this. There were a few trees that looked completely dead, with every leaf brown and dry. Could've been something different, too, I suppose.

Tim