If the leaves on your Norway maple look like someone splattered them with black tar, you are seeing tar spot, and it is showing up across Halifax and Dartmouth right now.
Tar spot is a fungal leaf disease that appears late in the season as raised black patches. It looks alarming, but on its own it is usually cosmetic and rarely threatens the life of an otherwise healthy tree.
The fungus overwinters in fallen leaves and reinfects the tree next spring, so raking and removing infected leaves this fall is one of the most effective steps a homeowner can take. Trees already stressed by compacted soil, drought, or past storm damage deserve a closer look, since repeated infections add to that stress.
Our plant health specialists can tell the difference between cosmetic leaf spots and a problem that needs treatment, so you are not paying for work your tree does not need.
#HalifaxTrees #TarSpot #TreeHealth #HRM #PlantHealthCare
Close-up photo of a Norway maple leaf with tar spot lesions, ideally taken in a Halifax or Dartmouth yard, plus a wider shot of fallen leaves under a maple. Authentic local photos preferred over stock.
Canva text suggestion: "Black Spots on Maple Leaves?" or "Rake Now, Healthier Maples Next Spring"