Dear Helpful Gardener,
Apologies if I am posting this message in the wrong section...
I have just moved into a new home (in Canberra Australia - in case this makes any difference to your answer) which includes a wonderful garden that has around 15 Japanese maples in it. Two in particular look as though they need help.
Japanese Maple A) is around 4 metres high with predominately green leaf foliage, but only half (and I mean exactly half) of the branches have come into leaf - the other half of the tree is dead. Any ideas as to what may have caused such a catastrophy? Should I go ahead and lop the dead limbs?
Japanese Maple B) is a younger version of A). In 3 specific areas the foliage has turned almost white with fine varigation of the leaves and these particular leaves are also somewhat finer and seem a little distorted in shape compared to the (what to my eyes seem) healthy leaves on the rest of the tree.
The two trees mentioned are not close (one at front and the other at the back of the house) so I don't suspect the same thing wrong with both of them.
Any enlightenment you may be able to provide would be most welcome.
Yours sincerely
Trina
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The Helpful Gardener
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Howdy Jim,
Japanese maples are a tricky bunch to begin with, and the Canberra area is a little outside my usual area of expertise, but we'll se what we can do...
First of all I thinmk we need to determine which maple we're talking about. The vargated foliage makes me think 'Orido Nishiki' but that's because that's the predominately found one in my area. There are others, for sure. Perhaps a trip to the library to take out J. Voorhees Japanese Maples and do some I.d. is in order; it would give us a much firmer place to start from...
As for branches not leafing out, that is never a good thing. Usually winter-kill for mt neck of the woods, but sun scald, dessication, fungus, insects or root damage would all create that kind of situation. Damage all on one side of the tree is usually environmental rather than pest or disease; I'd look at where it was planted and start sorting the list of possibilities. When you come up with a few ideas, we'll look at the short list...
The varigation can sometimes be caused by virus; are we sure these weree varigated plants to begin with? If not, you need to shovel prune these trees and dispose of them (preferably miles away). Virus is more of a warm weather issue, so I am less familiar with the problem, but that needs looking into... Is the plant near a driveway? Gas poisoning can give white patching and spotting on leaves as well...
Some homework for you first, but we will get to the bottom of this, promise...
Scott
Japanese maples are a tricky bunch to begin with, and the Canberra area is a little outside my usual area of expertise, but we'll se what we can do...
First of all I thinmk we need to determine which maple we're talking about. The vargated foliage makes me think 'Orido Nishiki' but that's because that's the predominately found one in my area. There are others, for sure. Perhaps a trip to the library to take out J. Voorhees Japanese Maples and do some I.d. is in order; it would give us a much firmer place to start from...
As for branches not leafing out, that is never a good thing. Usually winter-kill for mt neck of the woods, but sun scald, dessication, fungus, insects or root damage would all create that kind of situation. Damage all on one side of the tree is usually environmental rather than pest or disease; I'd look at where it was planted and start sorting the list of possibilities. When you come up with a few ideas, we'll look at the short list...
The varigation can sometimes be caused by virus; are we sure these weree varigated plants to begin with? If not, you need to shovel prune these trees and dispose of them (preferably miles away). Virus is more of a warm weather issue, so I am less familiar with the problem, but that needs looking into... Is the plant near a driveway? Gas poisoning can give white patching and spotting on leaves as well...
Some homework for you first, but we will get to the bottom of this, promise...
Scott
G'day Scott,
Many thanks for your very informative reply. We took your advice and found that we have the following maples:
Orido Nishiki (Acer Palmatum) x 3
Acer Palmatum Dissectum Viride x 3
'Osakazuki' Acer Palmatum x 2
Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum (Purple Japanese Maple) x 3
Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum Dissectum x 1
I have taken some digital photos, in particular of the tree that is half dead and of the problem with the drying leaves/varigated one. Unfortunately I don't know how to add the photos on this site, would you mind if I made contact through your company site (as shown on your profile)?
Canberra has cool crisp winters, very hot dry summers and pleasant fall/spring. Obviously a bit different to CT weather.
Cheers
Trina & Jim
Many thanks for your very informative reply. We took your advice and found that we have the following maples:
Orido Nishiki (Acer Palmatum) x 3
Acer Palmatum Dissectum Viride x 3
'Osakazuki' Acer Palmatum x 2
Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum (Purple Japanese Maple) x 3
Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum Dissectum x 1
I have taken some digital photos, in particular of the tree that is half dead and of the problem with the drying leaves/varigated one. Unfortunately I don't know how to add the photos on this site, would you mind if I made contact through your company site (as shown on your profile)?
Canberra has cool crisp winters, very hot dry summers and pleasant fall/spring. Obviously a bit different to CT weather.
Cheers
Trina & Jim
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The Helpful Gardener
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voith driver
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hi,
awww, thats not fair, leaving the story half way through, I was getting interested, only in a nosy sort of way but interested none the less
what did it turn out to be.
anyway, I am in the SE of England, and I appreciate that it is a bit out of your sphere of influence, and I think its fair to say that I have the wrong plant but I have an acer palmatum dissectum garnet, about 2ft tall in a large pot in my back yard,(always fancied one) the garden is as near as damn it east to west, about 80ft by 14ft, (terraced house by the way) so after reading the requirement of partial shade, etc, I have it placed at the house end (w) and as close as I can to the S side 6ft high fence, it gets sun through to about 1400hrs when the sun goes over the house.
But, the leaves always die back from the tips, its all over, it starts by browning at the tips then dies gradually, on this date most of the leaves are halfway dead, and the new ones are just showing signs of browning at the tips, I do water it at least once a week, but it might get a top up in the week, (and then again now and again it rains
)
is it the sun, or is it still not enough watering, on one side is a polycarbonate built conservatory, which I thought maybe bouncing heat back at it, but the damage is too even for this, methinks?
not allowed to move it er in doors will not let me.
voith
awww, thats not fair, leaving the story half way through, I was getting interested, only in a nosy sort of way but interested none the less
what did it turn out to be.
anyway, I am in the SE of England, and I appreciate that it is a bit out of your sphere of influence, and I think its fair to say that I have the wrong plant but I have an acer palmatum dissectum garnet, about 2ft tall in a large pot in my back yard,(always fancied one) the garden is as near as damn it east to west, about 80ft by 14ft, (terraced house by the way) so after reading the requirement of partial shade, etc, I have it placed at the house end (w) and as close as I can to the S side 6ft high fence, it gets sun through to about 1400hrs when the sun goes over the house.
But, the leaves always die back from the tips, its all over, it starts by browning at the tips then dies gradually, on this date most of the leaves are halfway dead, and the new ones are just showing signs of browning at the tips, I do water it at least once a week, but it might get a top up in the week, (and then again now and again it rains
)is it the sun, or is it still not enough watering, on one side is a polycarbonate built conservatory, which I thought maybe bouncing heat back at it, but the damage is too even for this, methinks?
not allowed to move it er in doors will not let me.
voith
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The Helpful Gardener
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voith driver
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The Helpful Gardener
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the collecter
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I don't know what type my trees are but I too have 2 Japanese maples...maybe some one could help me I.D them if I describe them? I am new to having these 2 trees so I don't know much about them - they were a gift to me and I've had them in the pot that the nursery provides since I've come to aquire these trees which has only been about 2 months.
Desription:
My trees were already "dwarfted" when bought for me.
they are about 2 feet high
the leaves are primarerly green on the bottum but red on the top
the tree attracted my eye because of the wilting look
I currently have them on a roof about 12 feet from the ground
Since I don't know much about these trees I guess you could say I'm being parinoid about things gowing wrong with them
If any one could pm me about any info or links all will be appriciated
~the collecter~
Desription:
My trees were already "dwarfted" when bought for me.
they are about 2 feet high
the leaves are primarerly green on the bottum but red on the top
the tree attracted my eye because of the wilting look
I currently have them on a roof about 12 feet from the ground
Since I don't know much about these trees I guess you could say I'm being parinoid about things gowing wrong with them
If any one could pm me about any info or links all will be appriciated
~the collecter~