Root rot of Japanese maple - Ask Extension
The leaves on my Japanese maple are turning brown on the edges and curling up. The tree was planted 2017. There are dead man finger fungus growing abo...
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Root rot of Japanese maple #577932
Asked July 08, 2019, 1:08 PM EDT
The leaves on my Japanese maple are turning brown on the edges and curling up. The tree was planted 2017. There are dead man finger fungus growing about 2' from the trunk. Is there a fungicide that can be used. What other steps should I take. PAcasandra is growing around the base of the tree (spread by runners, not freshly planted)
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
My first thought is that the leaves are turning brown due to leaf scorch or water issues. Typically, Japanese Maples prefer protected locations and moist soils. Is the tree in full sun and been getting regular water? Or perhaps your soil is heavy clay? Stick your finger in the ground to a depth of about 1 inch at the base of the tree to see if the soil is moist. If not, you may want to provide some deep watering to assist the tree through these hot days. The fungus and ground cover are most likely not the cause. Hope that helps.
