Japanese maple dying? - Ask Extension
What's wrong with my Japanese maple? Two years ago I planted 4 of them along the fence 5 feet west of my house. I tied them to wires and have been tra...
Knowledgebase
Japanese maple dying? #342253
Asked July 12, 2016, 5:55 PM EDT
What's wrong with my Japanese maple? Two years ago I planted 4 of them along the fence 5 feet west of my house. I tied them to wires and have been training them as espaliers. I assume they're vine maples because the trunks were thin, but I didn't buy them from a nursery. I got them from someone who probably just potted up some volunteers. They seemed to be doing well, but a couple of weeks ago I noticed some of the leaves on one of them were yellow, now I am finding dead leaves. Yesterday I trimmed off the dead leaves and fertilized the tree with Milorganite. Today I find more dead leaves. I checked to see if the branches had been choked by being tied to the wires, but they weren't. Help! These trees have been so beautiful and I don't want to lose them. So far only the one tree is showing symptoms. Do I need to remove it to save the others?
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Japanese maples are very hard to grow and keep alive.
1 - I would say that this is not a Japanese maple that I am aware of. Take a good branch to a local ornamental nursery such a Grays, , Goslers or Duckworth.
2- the second photo - leaves are curled. This is usually caused by either the weather getting too dry or a herbicide applied close by..Look around to see if other plants have the curled leaves in the area.
3- The third photo - is definitely sun burn and lack of water. Dig into the soil 12 inches, grab the soil to see how dry or wet the soil may be.
4- maple trees are very susceptible to verticillium wilt. See the attached web site.
Verticillium wilt - http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/maple-acer-spp-verticillium-wilt
Samples can be brought to the local OSU Extension Master Gardeners for a closer look; 996 Jefferson Street
1 - I would say that this is not a Japanese maple that I am aware of. Take a good branch to a local ornamental nursery such a Grays, , Goslers or Duckworth.
2- the second photo - leaves are curled. This is usually caused by either the weather getting too dry or a herbicide applied close by..Look around to see if other plants have the curled leaves in the area.
3- The third photo - is definitely sun burn and lack of water. Dig into the soil 12 inches, grab the soil to see how dry or wet the soil may be.
4- maple trees are very susceptible to verticillium wilt. See the attached web site.
Verticillium wilt - http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/maple-acer-spp-verticillium-wilt
Samples can be brought to the local OSU Extension Master Gardeners for a closer look; 996 Jefferson Street
