Hi All - Please see some attached photos of my Japanese maple which is clearly struggling. It’s plotted within a 10’ x 5’ area in front of our home and share space with some hedges. Any bright ideas on what is causing the sparseness and very wilted and dried out leaves? I’ve been watering almost every day for 30 minutes in the morning with a light dribble.
Help with struggling Japanese Maple
- Thread starter AndrewJ
- Start date
There are several possible reasons for this, such as fungal diseases that thrive in overly damp soil. Make sure the soil is amended with lots of compost and leaf mould. Japanese maples also cannot live well in alkaline soils or soils with lots of fertilizer. Too much wind, heat, coldness or overwatering causes the leaves to look brown and wilt. Adding grit or horticultural sand to the planting area can also help to ensure the soil is porous which increases oxygen levels in the soil for root respiration and a healthy soil ecology.
The leaves dry out in the lengthy sunny and hot periods. I reckon keep watering but new growth won't be until next year. Mine cut is circulation off to certain branches when stressed re heat and sun couple yrs back. These won't grow again though. Sideshoots will grow eventually. Only time leaves on mine start to shrivel is if I haven't watered every say 3 days, legally noticed this morning after not doing so since Sunday. Been sunny and hot alll week. Watering quite a bit always helps. Doesntt mind overwatering.