Mushrooms at the Base of a Dying Maple: Time to Let Go

Your 25-year-old black leaf maple has sparse leaves, loose bark at the base, and now mushrooms. The arborist said girdling roots—mushrooms confirm dead roots and decay.

In a small urban yard, a declining tree is a liability. Remove it now, grind the stump, wait a year, plant a thornless honeylocust ‘Shademaster’—small leaves, lateral growth, no mess. You’ll gain a better tree and peace of mind.