Norway maple leaves falling off the branch at Thornden Park in Syracuse, New York. © 2026 Maddy Osborne
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Central New York homeowners may have noticed their maple trees losing their leaves weeks earlier than usual this year. Two fungal diseases, tar spot and anthracnose, have caused widespread early leaf loss among Norway maples across Onondaga County.
While the diseases are mostly a cosmetic issue for trees, Cornell Cooperative Extension forestry educator Leanna Nugent said homeowners can take steps this fall to help limit the spread of fungus and reduce the chance of seeing it return next year.
“If you have them in your backyard or in your front yard,” Nugent said, “don’t mulch them, don’t compost them.”
Because the diseases are caused by fungus, adding infected leaves to mulch and then using that mulch around another tree could help spread the fungus.
“Not the end of the world if people do that,” Nugent said, “but it helps not come back next year.”
Unfortunately, there are not many preventive steps homeowners can take to stop tar spot and anthracnose from returning. Nugent said keeping infected leaves away from other trees, collecting them, putting them in a garbage bag and getting rid of them can help reduce the chance of the diseases returning next year.
Other trees that can be affected by these fungal diseases, although not to the same extent as Norway maples, include silver maple, red maple, sugar maple, sycamore, oak and ash.
Despite the early leaf loss this year, Nugent said she expected the trees to leaf out normally again in the spring.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Fall Color Concerns
Maddy Osborne: It’s getting chilly out here, and that can only mean one thing: fall is approaching. While many are waiting for those bright reds and oranges, some Central New York trees have already started losing their leaves.
Leanna Nugent: Right now, it’s really just the Norway maples that we are seeing all the leaves turn brown and crispy much earlier than usual.
Osborne: The early leaf loss is being caused by two fungal diseases, tar spot and anthracnose. Leanna Nugent with Cornell Cooperative Extension says this year has been particularly bad for the disease.
Nugent: We haven’t had this bad of an infection in about three years.
Osborne: So while some Norway maples are already losing their leaves, experts say the impact on Central New York fall foliage should be limited, but that leaves us with another question. What does that mean for the business counting on those fall visitors. Critz Farm in Cazenovia is a popular destination for fall activities and honor Matthew Critz says the season plays a major part in his business.
Matthew Critz: 75 percent of my gross income for the year is from Labor Day to Christmas. So my fall starts on Labor Day and goes right to the 15th of December.
Osborne: The farm can see as many as 15,000 guests on a busy weekend. Critz says he’s still expecting a strong fall season
Critz: I mean there is no better place for fall then right here.
Osborn: Experts say the region’s overall foliage should still provide plenty of color. I’m Maddy Osborne, NCC News.