We have two sugar maples on our property located in Moweaqua, IL. The one on the east side is doing really well. It is tall green and bushy. You cannot see the branches for the leaves. The birds love the tree.

The one on the west side is doing very poorly and has been getting worse for a few years now. This year it is really looking sick. The leaves are small. light colored, with a few brown rusty spots on them, and you can see all of its branches. Seed pods are hanging all over it, too. The bottom of the trunk and in a few other places it has cracks in the bark. Otherwise, the bark is fairly smooth.

We are afraid it is going to die. What is wrong with it? Can we save it and make it healthy again? It is 20 to 30 feet tall. Would it help to spray it with Sevin?

Is there a tree doctor close? and what would he charge?

We would appreciate your advice. Thank you!

Greetings Gary and Kay:

Unfortunately, like 90%+ off all the tree health problems I receive via this Internet venue -- my answer is that you are going to need to contact a local professional forester, horticulturist, or arborist for an on-site assessment.

Without physically seeing the tree and knowing more about the general environmental conditions, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for me to provide you with a legitimate and valid recommendation. Furthermore, do not apply pesticides to your tree if you cannot identify the cause of decline.

Therefore, please contact a local professional forester, horticulturist, or arborist for an on-site assessment of your tree(s). In Illinois, please utilize the Illinois Arborist Association Website to help you locate a local, certified arborist:

http://www.illinoisarborist.org/CertifiedArboristsNew.htm

Best of luck!