Japanese maple looking poorly :0(

Matt_pressman

Hi, first time poster and looking for help!...

We have several different Japanese maples, which over winter were all still in there pots from purchase in early autumn last year. By February the leaves started to appear, and all gained full leaves except for the Katsura.

As planned (and hoping the Katsura night improve) we transferred all the trees into the ground 10 days ago, but the Katsura shows no sign of improving. We hadn’t touched them at all over winter, only starting to water a little as the weather got milder and the soil was bone dry (over the last few weeks). 

Just to emphasise the other 5 maples are doing brilliantly so I’m not sure what’s going on with this one :0(

Any help or advice would be most appreciated. 

amancalledgeorge

It could be sun damage or it was kept too dry. But also don't think that's enough space to grow it there. The fence won't let enough water through to the rootball especially when its sandwiched with impermeable slabs. If it was mine I'd move it or put it in a large container, but should be fine if it gets good conditions. 

Matt_pressman

amancalledgeorge said:

It could be sun damage or it was kept too dry. But also don't think that's enough space to grow it there. The fence won't let enough water through to the rootball especially when its sandwiched with impermeable slabs. If it was mine I'd move it or put it in a large container, but should be fine if it gets good conditions. 

Thank you amancalledgeorge. 

So should we be watering and feeding the Katsura (we didn’t give feed during the winter months to any of the trees)?

micearguers

I have three Acer palmatums, Katsura, Samidare, and an unnamed one. Katsura seems by far the most vigorous and flourishing - and it comes in leaf about four or five weeks before the others do. Perhaps a combination of cold, coming into leaf, and drought led to this? Against a fence perhaps wind turbulence could contribute as well, as a matter of speculation. I would definitely give a good soak intermittently. It will have suffered a bit, spending energy on foliage whilst not yet settled, but in my experience it is a strong variety.

Fairygirl

I certainly wouldn't feed it. When a plant is struggling, it can't cope with extra food. 
I'd agree with @amancalledgeorge, it'll need more room to do it justice. 
Often the damage on them isn't caused by recent conditions either. It's similar to camellias/rhodos etc, which need good moisture the previous summer to produce good flower buds, so it's possible that lack of water last year will have created the problem.

Matt_pressman

Thanks micearguers and Fairygirl for the advice and tips - all noted. It’s eased my mind somewhat. 

Hope you’re all safe and surviving in this current climate.

Thanks again all!

amancalledgeorge

Good luck with the acers @Matt_pressman no garden should be without them 😉

Fairygirl

Good luck from me too @Matt_pressman, and hope you're well, and safe  too 

Acers are beautiful plants, and relatively easy if they have the right conditions. A bit trickier if they don't.