HelpfulGardener.com

Hi everyone,

I am a novice gardener and I planted two very young Japanese Maples in my yard this summer. I live in the Midwest, zone 6 to be exact, and about a couple weeks after I planted them, we hit a heat spell and the leaves seem to have gotten dry and scorched. I watered regularly to keep them healthy, but they are not looking very good. Do you think the trees themselves are still okay?

Here are some before and after pictures.

This is my Tamukeyama Japanese Maple when I first planted it. As you can see, still very young.

[img]https://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/269893_188278027898919_100001501702242_542535_6774501_n.jpg[/img]

This is what it looks like now.

[img]https://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296068_213698828690172_100001501702242_630186_1600788224_n.jpg[/img]

I also have a young Fireglow that I transplanted into a pot this weekend. As you can see, it has lost most of its leaves already, so I cannot tell if this is due to the heat and season or if the tree is dying.

[img]https://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/311561_213051848754870_100001501702242_628205_3110418_n.jpg[/img]

Lastly, this weekend I added an Oshio Beni to my landscape. It is much larger than the others, approx. 4-4 1/2' tall. I read that this one should be a stronger grower than the other two.

[img]https://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299510_213051542088234_100001501702242_628202_4546906_n.jpg[/img]

Anyone have any advice and experience on these varieties that they can give me? Thanks!!

Hi kady
In general speaking,To transplanting J maple is after all leave are droped. Since J maple bark is thin and delicate,handle the tree care free,like handling new born baby . also covered trunk with lightly washed barlap/barlap/ without oil. oily barlap stain on bark.

You could't wait untill fall. If leave are damaged nut bark is ok,then not to warry. new leave will develop just matter of time.
Next time wait untill all leave are drop. Professinal Gardener need mony every month to feed family. so we do what you did with extra coution.
Happy gardening.
yama from Tokyo

What is the sun exposure on your Jm's? They don't like a lot of direct sun and the leaves do tend to sunscald in full sun. In nature, they are understory trees in the forest, getting filtered/ dappled sun and that's what they like best. Full sun won't necessarily kill them, but they will suffer. Mine is in the shade of a good sized lilac, where it gets very little direct sun and is thriving.

Hi Kady
In general speaking
When we trasplant trees ,we wrap tree trank with rice straw or barlap no matter the season to avoid sun burn and loss of water from burk.

Many J maple trees can grow well under direct sun. If you prune while
J maple have leaf,tree bleed sap long time. late fall, winter, late winter is best time to prune. many professinal gardeners broke off tigs instead of useing pruner for speed. ( thining).

Remenber,J maple bark is thin and delicate.

yama