Japanese Maple bark issues - Ask Extension
Middle of last growing season my Maple started shedding its bar in spots. Its starting to bud this season so clearly its not dead but is this somethin...
Knowledgebase
Japanese Maple bark issues #390004
Asked March 24, 2017, 8:02 AM EDT
Middle of last growing season my Maple started shedding its bar in spots. Its starting to bud this season so clearly its not dead but is this something I should be worried about or is there anything I can to to help it out? Sorry about the depth of field issues in the photos.
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
You should clear any vegetation from around the base and give it a 2-3 inch layer of mulch.
Can you send a photo of the whole area, including where the trunk goes into the ground? And try again to get the camera to focus on the largest limb or trunk?
How old is the tree?
You can attach photos and reply directly to this message.
cm
Can you send a photo of the whole area, including where the trunk goes into the ground? And try again to get the camera to focus on the largest limb or trunk?
How old is the tree?
You can attach photos and reply directly to this message.
cm
About 7 years old. We replanted it in this spot about 2 years ago.
About 7 years old. We replanted it in this spot about 2 years ago.
There is usually a 2' ring of mulch. This ground cover is the early spring growth that I haven't cleared back yet
Those are very unusual bark peelings.
Our specialists looked at your photos, and said that it looks like some sort of damage, perhaps from hail? It does look like it's trying to heal, so you could wait and see how it looks during the growing season.
If it doesn't thrive, it's probably time to replace.
The only other idea we had is to wonder if there is any chance that this is a paperbark maple (Acer griseum), which has shedding bark.
cm
Our specialists looked at your photos, and said that it looks like some sort of damage, perhaps from hail? It does look like it's trying to heal, so you could wait and see how it looks during the growing season.
If it doesn't thrive, it's probably time to replace.
The only other idea we had is to wonder if there is any chance that this is a paperbark maple (Acer griseum), which has shedding bark.
cm
I think it's purple ghost.
