I need help with a Japanese maple tree (acer)

[Kevin24]

Hi,

I’m an extremely novice gardener and have a very unhealthy looking Japanese maple tree!

Can anyone give me any advice to help nurse it back to health.

All advice will be very much appreciated!

Many thanks.

 

[alp]

All is not lost. It might be a good idea to have the tree morning sun only. Please take it away from that corner as the retained heat might be too hot for that plant. It probably needs a bit of tidying up such as removing INWARD growing stems or branches which rub against one another. They want a cool feet, so perhaps not put it next to walls, but a sheltered spot. The leaves seem to have suffered from heat/wind scorch. Top the compost up with ericaceous compost or seasoned saw dust. Not a must, but they are woodland plants. Rain water is a better choice for them. I myself would check the leaves to see if there are any bugs, scales or others. Remove the damaged leaves with bugs(if any) and burn them.

 

[Becky]

Welcome to the forum! I agree that it looks like either heat or wind damage. How much sun does it get? Corners might seem like a sheltered spot but they can suffer from air turbulence, so it might be worth finding a better spot for the tree.

 

[Robert Cummings]

Yes may I join in and say Acer do not like to be exposed to the extremes of weather, whether it be salt wind, strong wind, direct sunlight, drought etc, its true to say they are a woodland plant and enjoy a damp but not waterlogged peaty soil, well rotted leaves are a steak dinner if you're a Japanese maple