Can I save a tree with Verticillium wilt?

There is no cure, but you can help the tree by keeping it well watered and fertilized to reduce stress.

Does yellowing always mean disease?

No, it is often just a reaction to a dry spell or a change in the season.

Bigleaf Maple: yellow leaves, causes and fixes

Check these first

Inspect the soil moisture at a depth of 6 inches.
Check branches for signs of wilting or discoloration.
Look for signs of pests on the undersides of leaves.

Likely causes

Verticillium Wilt
Most likely
How to tell: Leaves turn yellow or brown on specific branches while the rest of the tree looks fine. You might see dark streaks in the wood if you prune a small twig.
What to do: Prune out the affected branches well below the damage. Sterilize your tools with alcohol between cuts to prevent spreading the fungus.
Improper Watering
Possible
How to tell: The leaves turn yellow uniformly across the canopy. The soil feels bone dry or soggy to the touch.
What to do: Adjust your watering to every 7 to 14 days. Ensure the water reaches deep into the root zone during dry summer spells.

Yellow leaves on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your bigleaf maple

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

If the yellowing is localized to one side of the tree, it is a serious sign of wilt. Some yellowing in late summer is normal as the tree prepares for autumn.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the tree healthy with consistent deep watering and avoid wounding the trunk with lawn equipment.

Bigleaf Maple: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your bigleaf maple and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I save a tree with Verticillium wilt?: There is no cure, but you can help the tree by keeping it well watered and fertilized to reduce stress.
Does yellowing always mean disease?: No, it is often just a reaction to a dry spell or a change in the season.

Guides to these causes

Verticillium Wilt

Why are my Bigleaf Maple leaves turning yellow?