Any Japanese Maple (tree) experts Thread #2

[troutsqueezer]

Something that may or may not matter, Ive been driving the tractor close to this tree very frequently over the last 1 week while ive been doing some landscaping and putting in a patio. Could this have an effect?

Depends how close, but not likely. I'll bet you get some new leaves after a while.

FYI: Japanese maples do best when they get morning sun and some afternoon shade. The sunniest place in your garden is usually not the best place.

 

[Scooby074]

I'm leaning towards shocked ,I've grown some of my trees from seed and they don't like being moved around , I have killed some beautiful ficus trees I had at my house in Florida just by moving them from one side of the pool to the other .

Any way to un-shock it? some type of fertalizer or something?

 

[Scooby074]

Depends how close, but not likely. I'll bet you get some new leaves after a while.

FYI: Japanese maples do best when they get morning sun and some afternoon shade. The sunniest place in your garden is usually not the best place.

It does get some shade I guess. Its not in the blazing sun for too long. the house will block a bit of the sun I think

 

[Fossil Farm]

Fertilizer would be the worst thing you could do. Check with the nursery you purchased it from first. Hopefully no air pockets in the soil when you planted it, didn't let the roots dry out between purchase and planting, trimmed any circling roots, used good backfill in the hole, not planted too high or too low at the growing point. If no suggestions from the nursery, you may want to trim a few branches off to reduce the energy the plant is demanding from the roots in its new home. If it has not been 80 to 90 degrees everyday, there really is no reason to water it every day. Every 3 days or so would be plenty. As others said you may have drowned it or started root diseases depending on how much water you put on in heavy soils every day.

 

[RobertBrown]

They grow well in Japan. If you don't live in Japan, plant something else.

 

[Scooby074]

Fertilizer would be the worst thing you could do. Check with the nursery you purchased it from first. Hopefully no air pockets in the soil when you planted it, didn't let the roots dry out between purchase and planting, trimmed any circling roots, used good backfill in the hole, not planted too high or too low at the growing point. If no suggestions from the nursery, you may want to trim a few branches off to reduce the energy the plant is demanding from the roots in its new home. If it has not been 80 to 90 degrees everyday, there really is no reason to water it every day. Every 3 days or so would be plenty. As others said you may have drowned it or started root diseases depending on how much water you put on in heavy soils every day.

We've probably averaged about 70* in the daytime for the last month, give or take.

When I planted, I tried to keep it at the same depth as when in the pot. It came from the nursery and was planted within 2 days, due to rainy weather.

Ill check with the nursery in the next couple days. The one woman who really knows her stuff only works days M-F though, so it could be a bit of an issue to see her. Might call though.

 

[Scooby074]

They grow well in Japan. If you don't live in Japan, plant something else.

Brilliant reply.

 

[Arkaybee]

We do have a lot of clay here. When I planted it however I excavated 2x the pot diameter X 1.5x pot height as instructed. I then mixed in bought potting soil with the soil from the pot and added some bone meal. So there is no clay soil near the plant

A guiding principle in the nursery/landscaping business:

if one has predominately clay soil DO NOT dig a deep hole and fill it with potting soil or other richly organic mixture; by so doing one is effectively creating a bathtub filled with a sponge which will remain filled with water because the surrounding clay soil will not quickly absorb much of the water.

It appears that this maple tree is being drowned with excess water and very little air entering or remaining in the soil.

In clay soil it is best to till/mix the top two inches of clay with other added soils and amendments to raise the planting area (generous area) and plant into this raised berm. The plant will have adequate air and moisture and be able to access the characteristicly retained moisture of the clay soil below when the roots grow and mature.

If one has predominately sandy soil then by all means add plenty of the potting mixture or other organic amendments to help retain moisture. The surrounding, well-drained sandy soil will wick away excess moisture for a more healthful environment:thumbsup:.

If this tree was mine I would dig it up and replant as described above and I believe the tree will have a better chance of surviving unless it has already passed the point of recovery-- hope not!

More plants are lost from excessive water given with thoughts of TLC than any other factor.

:2cents:

HTH

Arkaybee

 

[troutsqueezer]

They grow well in Japan. If you don't live in Japan, plant something else.

Ignore this "advice" completely.

They flourish in N. California and constitute a very big industry here. We have 80 of them planted. They are usually problem-free and really are a pretty tough plant. That's why I think yours will probably be ok.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Let me add to the above.

I also grow Bonsai Japanese Maples. Once every few years, they are torn from the small pot they grow in and all the dirt is removed from the roots. Then the roots are cut back severely. The tree is then re-potted with a fresh mixture. I do give some Vitamin B to help minimize shock but honestly, I can't the difference between when I do use Vitamin B and when I don't. Occasionally, the tree will go into shock and lose the leaves. Eventually, they come back. I've only killed an insignificant number of trees over the years. :laughing: