I'm not well-versed with tree insect damage, so can't help you there. My small red maple tree bloomed well this spring but now it's leaves are drying up and curling. However, when leaf scorch occurs annually, the stress will gradually weaken the plant making it more susceptible to insects and diseases. For the past 4 years the leaves have browned and curled in early-mid summer. Q Why do Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) leaves sometimes frazzle?. Continue normal care during this period. jwutzke. I have a bloodgood japanese maple that was planted approximately 2years ago. Asked April 25, 2018, 1:16 PM EDT. It can be caused by frost, cold, drying winds, dry or wet soil and sun. Bring the look home with some of these principles, The tradition began with Rikyū 500 years ago. You can try and brush off the whitish powder from the plant, as well as resort to natural or chemical fungicides to resolve the problem. 3. oldgromit. Viewed 3k times 3. we had this Japanese maple placed last year by our landscaper, and it did well. When one of our readers saw her Japanese maple’s leaves rapidly turning brown, she reached out for advice, asking if fertilizer or water could help. A Leaves turning brown at the edges, curling, shrivelling and sometimes dying is a common problem with Japanese maples, especially those with feathery, paler or variegated leaves. We had a very wet spring and then it turned very, very hot . Favored by homeowners for their attractive foliage, Japanese maples have multiple branches that produce serrated leaves. They are one of the most popular trees in the Northwest and there are dozens of cultivars available here. Take a look at the base of the trunk - is the bark intact? If you see circular, brown spots on Japanese maple tree leaves, it’s likely a leaf fungus called leaf spot. The surface of the leaves is affected, usually, without any lasting damage. I bought a healthy Crimson Queen Lace-leaf Japanese Maple 4 weeks ago. Cause: Normal Fall season foliage drop. Keep hoping it will come back. Autumn Blaze Maple Tree 2 years old. Japanese maple leaves can be spotted and the veins within the leaves can be blackened. I'm afraid it's more dire than what I first thought. Is the soil well-drained? One of these fungal diseases, Verticillium wilt, is prevalent among Japanese maples. How long does it take a tree to recover from transplant shock? We grow 50 different varieties of j maples in our 22 yr. old mini arboretum. I think that is just the nature of the tree, Mine is 20 years old. Brown Curling Leaves on Japanese Maple (Question) I have a 7 foot Japanese Maple with leaves now fully emerged (mid-May and looking great). the nursery gardener advised fertilizer spikes which I did a month ago but it didn’t help. Is this a normal process as the tree is growing - or is that a problem? Needless to say, the poor thing is toast - and I feel especially bad about it because the tree was a gift. The soil in my area is very clayish. Hi Nancy- there's a guy at the Fairport Farmers Market that raises and sells Japanese Maples, he seems very knowlegeable, he might be able to help. The tree is 28 years young and has been full and beautiful. Caption: Frazzled leaves ruin the display of Japanese maples Its red, lacy leaves are a welcome addition to any garden, but they aren’t problem free. Bloodgood Japanese Maple Leaves Wilting. Adding a compost made from oak leaves will make an alkaline soil more acidic and adding organic matter such as compost or composted manure will help keep a sandy soil from draining quickly. I have a new Japanese Acer Palm Beni O’Take that stands about 5’ tall. Starting in the spring blossoms, it moves back into the shoots, leaves and twigs. I've also noticed bark splitting open on some of the branches. Hope this helpsPlease post photos. In some cases whole leaves can become entirely crispy and there may be some minor die-back of branches. What causes fungal attack to acer trees. Can you grow (and keep) a large maple tree in a container? I've had whole branches die back, but thankfully my 20 year old 'Bloodgood' Japanese Maple still continues to live. Look for leaf scorch, which makes the tips of leaves curl and turn brown and will eventually kill the tree. Tammy smith, I have the exact same issue on my Japanese Maple and i was wondering how your tree is doing and if you have had any success in finding out more about it? However here is a link that describes placement of rocks (read down to five basic stone types)http://www.helpfulgardener.com/japanese/2003/garden.htmlAlso bear in mind that as you create your river, you must have hidden elements that can only be seen as you turn a corner and the basic rule is that from any vantage point you never get to see all the rocks in one view. I'll replace it this summer and I won't plant hostas around it, or at least not tall ones. Over-exposure to sun can result in brown leaves, a phenomenon also known as "leaf scorch." Soil is moist but more clay like beyond the immediate hole that was dug for it. I have tried pesticides and given it extra water, but branch by branch the leaves are dying. as each year has been different but the results the same. Growing Wisdom garden videos will help you with all your gardening needs. Maples that are declining may have paler, smaller and few leaves than in previous years. Also, moving any mulch out away from the trunk a bit helps, too (then they can't nestle in there and gnaw away while they're all nice and cozy). Eventually the entire tree lost its leaves about a good month before established trees in the ground did. A Japanese maple is a glorious specimen tree. Is planting anything at the base of a Japanese Maple a bad idea? Caption: Frazzled leaves ruin the display of Japanese maples Q Why do Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) leaves sometimes frazzle?. He's out of Irondequoit, his name is Dick Sage (I think- I'm not sure where I put his business card). I have shrubs, perennials, bulbs, groundcovers (too many to list) planted right under my six with no problems. Hi Tim-Note sure how much rain you have had in your location, but this year soon after new foliage was appearing on all our japanese maples the rains came all at once over a period of a month. I do have some ground cover around it so that probably helps too, to maintain the moisture. ... There’s nothing in a typical grub or fertilizer treatment that would curl and brown Japanese maple leaves… at least not that I know of. I bought a healthy Crimson Queen Lace-leaf Japanese Maple 4 weeks ago. I actually did notice some of the bark splitting higher up the trunk. Gutters can clog with ice and cause water from melting snow to drip over the edge of the gutters and fall to the ground (ramp) and freeze. Asked October 30, 2018, 4:48 PM EDT. See how his innovative spirit lives on in the teahouses of today, Vintage obis, petrified wood, Samurai armbands and antique fans are just a few of the materials that warm this California apartment, 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form, Great Design Plant: Coral Bark Japanese Maple, a Winter Standout, Lay of the Landscape: Create the Beauty of a Japanese Garden, World of Design: The Enduring Magic of the Japanese Teahouse, Houzz Tour: Modern Japanese Penthouse Atop a Designer’s Office. I doubt it is weather variables (sun, water etc.) Are you starting to see browning on your Japanese Maple leaf edges? Or if the spots are more free-form, that could be anthracnose, another common leaf disease. A hot summer can leave even established specimens that are too exposed to sun with brown leaves, especially if … Cold-tolerant annuals that are quick from seed to bloom. I think your colours work perfectly for a Japanese garden - the less is more approach usually works. ... my Japanese Maple has dying leaves & are stickey. I know exactly the neighbor responsible. Hi, I planted a Japanese coral bark back in March in a half wine barrel container, and it was doing great up till recently. You’ll need to repeat these amendments annually. Can you grow (and keep) a large maple tree in a container? Active 1 year, 1 month ago. Learn how to save a dying transplanted tree and about tree transplant shock recovery. If the leaves of your Japanese Maple are grey or brown around the edges, and are scorched looking and curled, but the branches are still flexible and alive, it is most likely leaf scorch. Among the usual suspects for dying leaves are several fungal diseases and aphids. After about 2 weeks I noticed that the leaves started wilting/drying and curling. I've had the same thing happen in years with higher than normal rainfall amounts. I use chicken wire to protect the trunk as best I can as this happened to me before with another tree. For some trees, leaf spot and anthracnose can mean a few dots on leaves here and there. My Japanese Maple "Bloodgood" has been in the ground about 4 years and was probably 3 feet high when I bought it. Reply. I had assumed that this was due to it being over 100 degrees as some of the new growth coming in. as each year has been different but the results the same. While Japanese maples are most commonly affected, other maples such as Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’ and Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' may also suffer from leaf scorch. The guide notes that Japanese maples are susceptible to leaf scorch that causes the leaves to turn brown around the margins. I pulled back the hostas and about a foot of the bark has peeled off the trunk. Perhaps you can dig a deep hole in the general vicinity, fill it with a few gallons water, and see how long it takes to drain. I've got it going on right now on a lilac and viburnum, and I live in town. Not only does the bacteria prevent fruit from forming, it often kills the tree. The tree tries to heal over these wounds. Good luck, they are beautiful so hope I helped some. I think you could find a variety that would work for you in that spot. New this yearJapanese maple tree.leaves are curling & dying Planted early summer & was doing fine but then leaves started turning brown at edges & looks to be dying curling leaves dying leaves on Japanese maple: water damage, drought, or disease? Q: My well-established Japanese maples are dying. It's very possible something has gotten to the bark and it's been hidden from view so I've not been able to address it. It happened to a laceleaf Japanese maple I planted a few years ago, it leafed out then the leaves started curling and drying, falling off, and whole branches dying. I am attaching pictures. My dad lives in the country and once every few years, his shrubs take a beating from this exact thing. My hose is right behind it and sometimes I turn it to a slow trickle with the nozzle next to it. Needless to say, the poor thing is toast - and I feel especially bad about it because the tree was a gift. What can I do? I used recommended soil for weeping and tree shrub for other. Three Reasons Your Japanese Maple Has Brown or Crispy Leaves dying leaves on Japanese maple: water damage, drought, or disease? as each year has been different but the results the same. It's very obvious the tree is under severe stress. The tree is 28 years young and has been full and beautiful. I planted my Japanese maple last April and it did great through last summer, fall winter and beginning of spring. It is in the Niagara region of southern Ontario. ... leaves curling, discoloring, totaling dying and dropping off. Reply. I would look to something else being the problem. All of them have always had hostas, shrubs, perennials densely planted under them, well within their drip line. As fall approaches, Japanese red maple leaves turn brown, wilt and defoliate. We have had a lot of rain here in the Northeast most of spring/summer. They've never caused a problem, yet that's not to say they never will. The leaves are turning red and I skipped a day of watering and on side the leaves are dying (brown and curling). It seemed to be doing well up until the past month. × Dappled light is best. I haven't removed it yet. I've got lots of large hostas encircling the base of the tree and they've been there since I planted it. Leave it for about 20 min. To answer our reader’s question (and hopefully yours, too), let’s look at a few ways you can revive a struggling Japanese maple tree. just dont forget it. Japanese maples like a lot of moisture, so as long as the soil isn't outright water-logged I can't imagine rain would be the problem. Any possibility the tree got overspray from a weed spray killer...either by you or by it being applied by someone in the neighborhood on a windy day? Japanese maple leaves can be spotted and the veins within the leaves can be blackened. 2. In any case, if you suspect bark damage is the problem, a good idea for such a young tree is to circle the bark with some type of caging placed close to the trunk so the varmits can't gnaw at it. Anthracnose is a common spring disease on maple trees common in the landscape including red (Acer rubrum), silver (Acer saccharinum), sugar (Acer saccharum) and Japanese (Acer palmatum) maples. There are a few Japanese maple diseases and several insect problems with Japanese maples that you should be aware of to give your tree the care it needs. What causes fungal attack to acer trees. One cultivar of Japanese maple has naturally curling leaves. Then first of May all the leaves curled up and the tree looks dead. 9 years ago. However, most of these conditions are specific to the location of your Japanese maple which I assume you don’t want to change. Japanese garden landscape need suggestions, I have a lacy leaf Japanese maple and the leaves do curl up some. Looking closely at it I could see that not every leaf on a branch was affected. The soil in my area is very clayish. I have a drip irrigation system that runs on it. A lot of Japanese maples have been mysteriously dying in the last 2 to 3 years. You would be surprised at how far that stuff travels via the wind. For the past 4 years the leaves have browned and curled in early-mid summer. Hello. Good luck! This tree gets a lot of direct strong sun for 4-5 hrs per day. ... leaves curling, discoloring, totaling dying and dropping off. Or do you think this problem is caused mainly by all the rain? It can be caused by frost, cold, drying winds, dry or wet soil and sun. Is it possible this is a reoccurring fungus? "Bloodgood" will tolerate perennials planted underneath, just make sure they're not up right against the trunk - plant them at least 2' or so away from the trunk, and if you want to plant shrubbery under/around the tree, plant out farther from the trunk than that (at least 4'-5' out). I’m also including a link to a page on the Missouri Botanical Garden site which has a good picture of leaf scorch on a Japanese maple. Ask Question Asked 5 years, 3 months ago. I suggest you ensure your Japanese maple is watered regularly with extra water during any periods of extreme weather. You have not indicated that the leaves fell off suggesting that this is a mild case. They've not turned any colors yet, just curled up. I think it may be the combination of too much moisture, causing roots to possibly rot, and allowing invasion of verticillium wilt fungus.