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Japanese maple #813206

Asked October 04, 2022, 6:24 PM EDT

What is wrong with my Japanese Maple? The leaves only stay red for the first week or two. Then they turn brown/green and eventually looked dead around the edges of the leaves moving from the edges to the center. It looks awful all season. I read that Japanese maples need shade. It receives western facing sun without shade. There used to be a shade tree in front but was cut down years ago before I moved in.

Ingham County Michigan

Expert Response

Hello,

Japanese maples (Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’) I’m guessing that your tree is ‘Bloodgood’ prefer dappled sun (morning sun is the best) with well-drained, moist, acid soil, rich in organic matter. Read more here: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a990

Light levels affect the color of the tree—it can be either too much sun or too little depending on the species. Most Japanese maples show their true red color in the spring and fall but often green up during the summer. In the summer when it is hot, the plants burn more carbohydrates which can account for the loss of color other than green. Stressors such as extreme heat in the summer and little water; fertilizing and pruning late in the season can lead to leaf scorch and greening of the foliage. Your tree seems to be responding to the conditions that it is living in.

You can also consult a certified arborist to assess the tree. To find an arborist in your area go to www.treesaregood.org, the website of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.


An Ask Extension Expert Replied October 05, 2022, 12:32 PM EDT

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