A question about Tulip Poplars

[basswidow]

Hi all,

I've been away for awhile after moving to Atlanta GA and my home does not have a stove.

A question for homeowners with Tulip Poplars, do they always drop leaves in the summer? We've had a ton of rain and plenty of mild weather, yet both of my trees close to the house are dropping leaves on my deck and back yard. It's so annoying. Seems like a messy tree.

Worse - I have to consult an arborist before I chainsaw any tree. Someone shoot me now!

 

[The Beagler]

Could be anthracnose. Tulip Poplars are vulnerable to get that. It looks like a powdery form of mildew on the fallen leaves. Otherwise, I don't know what could make them dropping leaves now. Might want to get them checked. Could be something else that is doing it. Anthracnose generally isn't fatal to the tree. Just looks unattractive.

 

[BrotherBart]

Nope. I have tons of them from saplings to monsters and they don't shed in the summer here.

 

[343amc]

I used to have one before a storm sent it crashing to the ground a few years back. It would drop a few leaves on the summer but nothing that caused concern.

 

[basswidow]

Thanks for the replies. It's dropping leaves like crazy - they are coming off yellow like it's fall. Perhaps there is some storm damage at the top that I can't see? Strange. We've had plenty of rain and fair weather. Other trees are fine, it's just the tulip tree.

Thanks - I will keep an eye on it.

Boy my wife and I sure miss our Kozy Heat Z42 this past winter - it never got cold here in GA. Never went below freezing nor did the ground freeze. I sure miss firing up my chainsaws and swinging my Fiskar. Not sure if I will put one in the house here. It's hard to justify the expense. I need to finish my basement first. Fired up my small saw tonight to make a clearing in the woods for my kid's new trampoline. Gonna clear it out and put down pine straw. My little echo fired right up and wondered where I had been! Stupid work move!

But on the bright side. Cost of living is great, weather is great, BASS fishing is awesome Miss this place.

 

[lukem]

My parents have a couple tulips in their yard (and a ton in their woods). I don't remember them dropping large amounts of leaves this early in the summer. Seems like a few here and there would turn yellow and drop, but not what you are describing. I suppose it could have been hit by lightning, but usually that just kills them and they go brown...not yellow like autumn.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

We've been here for 24 years and our neighbor has a Tulip Poplar in the front yard and it has dropped yellow leaves for all those years in July, this year it was late June. The tree is healthy, was never damaged but every year the wife and I joke that "it must be July because the leaves are falling" so yes they do drop leaves earlier than other trees.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Basswidow, good to see you back again. Could it be a question of those trees getting too much moisture this year? I understand in your area the rainfall is far above average.

 

[NCFord]

Yes they tend to drop leaves all year. Just wait till you have a dry summer, you'll think it's fall in July. I have a dozen or so and and they are all dropping leaves. I hate them, we have some that line our driveway and they drop sap all the time on the cars. I take every chance I can to cut them down.

 

[Brewmonster]

Every year I see tulip poplars losing a portion of their leaves (after turning yellow) right around August 1. Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Capetownkg]

I have been having the same issue. Just like you we have had plenty of rain more then average. Good to know im not the only one. I dont see any damage on my tulip poplars either. I have about 7 behemoth poplars surronding my house really contemplating taking the three big ones out.

 

[rock4200]

I have been having the same issue. Just like you we have had plenty of rain more then average. Good to know im not the only one. I dont see any damage on my tulip poplars either. I have about 7 behemoth poplars surronding my house really contemplating taking the three big ones out.

View attachment 107255

Same here the one I have is dropping leaves like it is fall

 

[Jacktheknife]

Fruit trees have what is known as the "June drop" where in late June they jettison any fruits that they can not support due to heat. I wonder if that happens with flowering trees. I haven't noticed it on our catalpa.

 

[Reckless]

They drop the tulip leaves and they clog my gutter and yes messy

 

[clemsonfor]

Poplars are some of the first to drop their leaves. Many think its due to drought the last few years but its just a sign fall is around the corner. It usually starts mid august, but I think yours seems a few weeks early??

Where in atl do you live we were below freezing quite a bit. And I live in a bit of a warmer area than you. Were not like the north by any means but I save between $50 to $150 a month in electricity by heating with wood. Not as much as some of the northern guys but that still adds up to close to $400 a season!

 

[Reckless]

I really think you guys are confusing the flower petals for leaves Mine droped a cple weeks ago. The leaves on the tree are HUGE.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I really think you guys are confusing the flower petals for leaves Mine droped a cple weeks ago. The leaves on the tree are HUGE.

No, I'm talking about the leafs, not the flowering part. The neighbor kid raked about about 6 bags full last week, and they have been falling since late June, yellow and crunchy like it was late October or November-happens every year!

 

[Reckless]

No, I'm talking about the leafs, not the flowering part. The neighbor kid raked about about 6 bags full last week, and they have been falling since late June, yellow and crunchy like it was late October or November-happens every year!

Yea I just noticed that some of my leaves are coming down to already, but it just started.

 

[clemsonfor]

Like I said they start to fall this time of year every year.

 

[basswidow]

Well alright, seems like it must be normal.

Hey Backwoods! Hope you are well. I sure miss hearth.com. I usually took the summers off anyways for fishing. But I sure miss processing my firewood and then enjoying the stove heat and flames. Boy we miss it. Almost enough to move north!

 

[clemsonfor]

I live in almost the same climate and burn 2 cords to heat my home. But I have an uninsullated home. And the room to store it.

 

[CTFIRE]

We took down 7 or 8 tulips over the last year. Was surprised how healthy some liked from the outside only to notice that the entire center was rotted away. Carpenter ants love to live in them. Plus is that the season and dry quickly

 

[clemsonfor]

Poplars and sweet gums are some of the species most prone to rot, often times rotting while still standing I'd they have a leak

 

[mecreature]

I have 2 Tulip Poplars and they drop a lot of leaves around this time.
This year is the latest they waited to drop them. They are still holding their leaves.

 

[basswidow]

I live in almost the same climate and burn 2 cords to heat my home. But I have an uninsullated home. And the room to store it.

Never wore a coat from Decemeber - thru - March all last year. I think a wood stove would chase us out of the house! Still would like to have one, but it's not in the budget.

Strange summer here too. Haven't had maybe 1 or 2 days that went over 90 degrees. A ton of rain and cool temps. Very unusual - the lakes are all over full.