Question
Hi, I have, what I'm told is a relatively young, Sugar Maple in the front of my home (GA). When we purchased our house six months ago the tree had a very dark/black base and now the black has spread all the way up the trunk and onto several of the branches. Is this some form of fungus or disease? Is the tree maturing and the color change is part of it? I know nothing about trees and want to make sure it's not too late to save this beauty.

Answer
Sounds like the normal growth of the bark. Wait until the tree leafs out this spring and if the foliage of green and as thick as last year then the tree is ok. Diseases do not grow on a trunk from the base up. As a tree grows the bark does change from a smooth light color  to a rougher darker color.