Thanks for the question.

Japanese maples can dry out easily, especially in the summer.  It may seem a bit odd given that the Metro has certainly received its share of rain.  But it can still occur with Japanese maples.  If the day-temperatures remain in the high 80’s, you should be watering your maple at least every three days.  This should be a slow watering over at least an hour in duration, delivering about an inch of water during that period.  Do not water just next to the trunk.  Judging from your pictures, I would suspect that the drip line extends out at least four feet in all directions from the base of the trunk.  This defines the area over which you should water as this is approximate area under which the tree’s surface roots exist. 

I suspect this is a condition known as leaf scorch.  It is brought on by hot weather, especially at this time of the summer (mid-July 2024).  Leaves may appear scorched, curled, and have brown or gray edges.  Try bending a few of the branches.  If they are flexible and can be bent, that branch is alive and may even develop new leaves as we move into the cooler days of September.  DO NOT apply any fertilizer to the tree.  This would simply add to the stress that your tree is experiencing. Thankfully, Japanese maples usually recover from leaf scorch and mproduce new leaves if not this season (2024), then in spring 2025.

See the following for more information on these and related points:

https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/leaf-burn-scorch-on-japanese-maples.html

https://mapleleavesforever.ca/leaf-scorch-on-young-maples/

https://www.thespruce.com/brown-leaves-on-japanese-maple-trees-2132814

If you wish for cosmetic reasons, you could snip off the scorched leaves.  They are dead anyways.

The reason why this might have started with the lower leaves is that the maple’s upper regions could have been shaded by the surrounding vegetation.

Good luck!  Please get back to us with any other related questions.  Thanks for using our forum.



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