Sugar Maple with White Foam: Dead Tree, Sprout Recovery

Diagnosis

The white foam on the lower trunk is fungal fruiting bodies (mushrooms) of decay fungi—not the killer, but decomposers of already dead wood. The tree died over winter (likely cold injury), evidenced by:

• No spring leaf-out
• Base sprouts only (root crown alive, top dead)
• Decay fungi colonizing dead trunk

Action Plan

• Cut dead trunk off at ground level.
• Select one strong sprout next year as new leader; remove others.
• Healthy neighbor tree is safe—disease/insect would have spread already.

Why This Happened

Young maples are vulnerable to freeze-thaw cycles, especially if planted too deep, in wet soil, or without winter trunk protection. The 2.5-year establishment period is critical.