Japanese maple, Need Help!

[JP6716]

Hi, I have a japanese maple tree in my backyard, it has been a healthy tree up until this year. About half of the tree appears dead and I have no idea on the cause. My dad used old leaves to mulch and cover the old roots, I'm not sure if that is a contributing factor. What can I do to save my tree?

[Goaty]

Bad to say what it is. Hard weather, Graft union failure(unlikely) Verticilium wilt. Have a google and compare. Depending what it is, it may help the tree to remove all the dead material.

[adam pike]

Jap Maples do not like full sun it tends to burn the leaves has it been looking like this for a while or just this year?

[JP6716]

just this year

[Chris at eden]

What is all this stuff under the canopy? Anything heavy or toxic?

[woodyguy]

I'd cut off a branch that's dead and see what the wood inside looks like. I've had it happen with V. wilt and the whole tree will quickly die if you don't cut out the diseased parts.

[NFG]

Hi,

 

Weve grown several Acers over the years, they like a shady sheltered spot from wind that dries their leaves. They also prefer a slightly acidic soil with some drainage, we once grew one on clay although we did put a lot of ericaceous compost in the ground before planting. I also used the old leaves as a mulch without problem.

 

Your tree has grown a fair bit & does look like its somewhat exposed, Id cut & examine dead branches then post back pics, some of our have had branches die which I remove but nothing like yours.

 

I would check to see whats around the base as suggested previously & check the soil is not too dry or too moist maybe apply a mulch of peat & water if too dry.

 

 

N

[Gary Prentice]

Hi, I have a japanese maple tree in my backyard, it has been a healthy tree up until this year. About half of the tree appears dead and I have no idea on the cause. My dad used old leaves to mulch and cover the old roots, I'm not sure if that is a contributing factor. What can I do to save my tree?

 

Can you explain the "old leaves to cover and mulch the old roots". Looking at the grass growth around the tree, there doesn't appear to be any mulch present.

 

Mulching with uncomposted leaves, of a species that's slow to break down, could create an impermeable layer reducing moisture and soil aeration - although that doesn't appear to be the situation here. Is the tree newly exposed to drying winds or sunlight? Othering sheltering tree or shrubs removed maybe.

 

When you say "cover old roots", has the soil level been lowered or altered?

[JP6716]

We used to have some tall pine trees near it that blocked out some of the sunlight, but we took those down a couple years ago. Heres a picture of the base and an inside view from where a branch broke off

[JP6716]

.....

[Graham]

Re. the last pic. Any chance of a clear close up? Is there any root girdling? May be above or below ground.