During these talks I have noticed that most folks are.

Aug 30, Yes, this is a boxelder tree which may be in serious decline. The leaf canopy is extremely thin, and it sounds like it has been stressed (leaf drop) for several years. We do not see any particular disease or insect issue, which indicates it is an environmental or cultural problem.

The good news is that there don't seem to be any dead branches. The fungus up the trunk would have my attention. If it were on the back 40 I'd let it be. My neighbor's box elder has dumped leaves early for a decade straight. It looks like it might be near your home though so I say it is probably time to have a pro look at it. Deciduous; leaves drop in fall. Height: 35 to 60 feet. Width: 35 to 60 feet. Has a rounded to irregular form. Leaves: emerge in mid-April to late May; are inches and are made up of leaflets.

Only native maple with a compound leaf, leaves are opposite each other along branches. Mar 12, Box elders are scrappy and hard to kill, and they drop leaves and fruits even into the winter. Leaves and fruits (and box elder bugs) may be annoying to homeowners who have to clean them up, bu t they are absolutely crucial to the ecosystem as a whole.

Many different types of wildlife rely on those fruits and leaves that persist on the tree, especially late in the season when food supplies.