Black spots on maple leaves
February 12, 2021 | Expert answer by:
Q. Why are there tar-like spots on my maple tree leaves?
A. Black spots sometimes appear on the leaves of maple trees from mid-June to mid-July. The spots are a fungal disease called Maple Tar Spot (the spots look just like they sound). The spots do not cause damage to the tree and are only cosmetic so no control is necessary.
If the Tar Spots continue for several years and the disease continues to bother YOU, it can be controlled by spraying. The timing of this spray is very important – it must be done at the beginning of May and again at the beginning of June. Spraying outside this timeframe won’t have any effect on controlling the fungus that causes the spotting.
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