Diseased sycamore leaves?

[di]

Right two questions in one!
Firstly,does anyone know what's caused almost every sycamore in the area to have spotty leaves?The spots develloped I think in the summer?The spots are black & a little larger than a pea & each leaf has several spots.
Secondly,would it be inadvisable to use said leaves when making leaf mould?

[lynda66]

AIE - Pest & Disease - Tar Spot

Tar Spot Fungus on Sycamore

Acer tar spot - Frequently Asked Questions - topical advice

think those should help

[HeyWayne]

I'm sure I've seen this recently, bit of a national problem if I remember correctly.

[di]

Thankyou jolly much Lynda~a relief to know I don't have to chuck out the leaves already collected!
Wayne,it's deffo widespread across Suffolk~we don't leave the borders often(sept for the zoo!),so don't know about the rest of the country,but Andi seems to think it's national.

[nelliegemini]

The tree hanging over the wall from the wood into my garden has had it for the last 9 years as far as I can remember (ie ever since we moved in). Doesn't seem to be harming the tree.

[lynda66]

all ours up here have it too

[Flummery]

Most of the ones I see have it too. It's just one of those things...breaks into song tra -la!

[sewer rat]

All the sycamores up here have it to. I have spent three full days with a leaf blower at my two gardening jobs gathering leaves from oak and sycamore and it all goes into the leaf mould bins.

[seasprout]

Yes its Acer Tar spot, its very common, not fatal just unsightly.

It's fungal, spreads by rain drops, wind. You can rake up and bin/burn fallen leaves if you want to try to get rid of it, but as it's been a good 2 years for blight and other fungal spores eradication is unlikely.

And i'm glad i managed to get eradication into that sentence.

[Two_Sheds]

I meant to look this disease up, it's all over Norfolk and Suffolk sycamores. thanks for the prompt.

"Acer tar spot. There is no need to treat this and it is fine to compost the affected leaves."