A big leaf maple that looks fine from the street can already be failing from the inside out.
Big leaf maple decline shows up as thinning crowns, early leaf drop on just one side of the tree, and dead branch tips scattered through an otherwise green canopy. It is common across Whatcom County's older neighborhoods, where these trees often grow close to homes, driveways, and power lines, and it tends to progress quietly over several seasons before a major limb finally fails.
Catching the early signs matters because a maple in decline does not always need to come down. Sometimes selective pruning to remove dead wood and reduce weight on compromised limbs is enough to buy the tree, and the homeowner, more time.
If a maple on your property has been dropping leaves early or thinning out at the top, it is worth a closer look before the wetter fall weather sets in.
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A close-up photo of dieback on a real maple canopy, or a crew member assessing a tree with binoculars or a resistograph, would work well here. If a recent job involved maple pruning, a before/after crown shot is ideal.
Canva text suggestion: "Catch it before it fails" or "Know the signs of maple decline."