maple tree problem

[jyamuder]

we have a large maple tree (80-90 feet tall) in our front yard.
last fall it lost its leaves before any other tree on our block.
this spring its leaves came out, but now in mid june the leaves are falling off. several branches have died, and some large chunks of bark have pelled back from the trunk.
we called a local arborist who told us that the tree has bores.
he showed us some holes in the trunk.
he suggested that we could try a fertilizer treatment in the ground. i was reading that this may cause more bores as the fertilizer will cause the tree to grow new shoots. pls advise if this is true and if the fertilizer will kill the bores.
also , how do you know if it is too late to help the tree. we do not want to lose the tree, but also do not want to pay for a service which has not hope of helping us.

thanks
jennifer

 

[treeclimber165]

Sounds like he is trying to help you delay the inevitable. An over-mature maple with borers might last a couple more years, life-support (additional fertilizer) might extend it. Also, if you have large deadwood in the tree, having it pruned out might be a good safety idea if you aren't going to remove it for a couple years.

 

[Treeman14]

You first need to find an arborist who can properly diagnose the problem(s). If you just fertilize without treating the cause, you may do more harm than good. Too many so-called "arborists" will tell you to just fertilize or "feed" every tree which looks unhealthy. That's like a doctor prescribing vitamins for every patient no matter what is wrong with them.