Hello everyone

I have a very beautiful Maple Acer Tree in my back garden - which must be well over 10 years old - I planted it when it was tiny!

I’m really not sure if I need to worry but all the leaves are covered with a black `blob` effect pattern which looks terrible and I wondered if anyone else has experienced anything like this with their acer?

I would appreciate any advice you could offer!

Thank you x

Ive also got one my first not had a lot of time to do much with it apart from repotting it not sure if it will like my very heavy clay soil in the garden.

I am guessing this is “tar spot.” This fungal attack shows up in late summer and may cause an early leaf fall, but it is not something to worry about.  The tree would have to have been sprayed with a fungicide way back in the spring, and it is probably too big to spray anyway.

Tar Spot does not really do any harm other than visually but can cause premature fall of the leaves.  Like Black Spot, the disease is over wintered on the ground so raking up all fallen leaves throughout autumn can help control the amount of spores released in the spring.

Yes the new growth next spring should be ok