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Japanese Maple

charlotte-nottcharlotte-nott Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi everyone

I have a Japanese maple in a large pot which is very important to me as it commemorates my son. The photo is it the first year for reference.


The tree is only two years and 3 months old. The year we got it and last year it was very healthy. This year it had buds but the leaves didn’t properly develop, and now I’m concerned it’s dead. I think I didn’t water it enough in an early hot spell, but have been diligent since. 

When I snap a branch it seems to have a hint of green, but the whole tree does seem a bit wobbly in the pot. 

Could anyone offer some advice with how I may salvage it, or at least know if it’s too late. Happy to give more info as required! I can plant in the ground if this is helpful to the tree. 

Thanks in advance 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Until this spring when I planted all but one of my acers in a new bed I had them all in pots and very happy.  However, my pots are deeper than they are wide and I kept them all on a north facing terrace so no direct sun except very early morning around the summer solstice.

    Does your pot have drainage holes?  Have you top-dressed the compost and given the tree a feed?   How often do you water?  Is it sheltered from sun and wind?

    Can you post a photo of it now?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • charlotte-nottcharlotte-nott Posts: 6
    Thank you for replying so quickly. 

    After I noticed it was struggling I moved it to a spot with similar conditions to you describe. Prior to that it did get a lot of sun from 11-6 ish. 

    Do you think I would benefit from repotting or planting in the ground, and if so would that be now or wait until spring?

    It does have drainage holes, but I think maybe I need to put on a stand for better drainage as I noticed it drained quite slowly when I watered it yesterday. I’ve been watering daily during the heatwave. Should I water less?

    I’ve given it a feed, but not top dressed the compost. I’m relatively new to gardening so hadn’t realised. I’ll get some new compost tomorrow and do that in the hope it’s better late than never!

    I can get a photo of it in the morning. It looks very sad! Someone suggested trimming the tree, but in further reading I’m worried I’ve done further damage in doing that at the wrong time. It is relatively sheltered from the wind as it’s right up against the house, but could be caught by a horizontal wind
  • charlotte-nottcharlotte-nott Posts: 6

  • charlotte-nottcharlotte-nott Posts: 6
    I think maybe it has some form of rot. See the second photo 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Sorry, but no leaves in the middle of summer means it is pretty much dead.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • charlotte-nottcharlotte-nott Posts: 6
    Anything I can try? When I snap a branch it’s green not brown. Is it worth trying it in the ground?
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    You wont have lost anything by planting it in the ground. However, looking at the base of the trunk, is the bark missing all the way round? The water carrying organs are just below the bark and if they are broken or the bark isn't sufficient, I'm sorry to say that nothing is going to be effective. On way of killing a tree is to remove a ring of bark and so cut off the water supply.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's dead. As @punkdoc says - no foliage at this time of year, so not alive.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • charlotte-nottcharlotte-nott Posts: 6
    No it’s not missing the bark all the way round. Maybe 1/4-1/3 of the diameter. It started to grow leaves back in April ish but they didn’t properly develop. There are still a few buds on the end of some branches that have a red tint not brown and dry like the majority. 

    I’ve topped up the compost, put up off the ground to ensure the drainage holes are clear, and supported it with a stick, so I’ll just have to hope. 

    As I said it’s in memory of my stillborn son so I really will try anything! 
  • Samridout92Samridout92 Posts: 95
    charlotte-nott said:
    No it’s not missing the bark all the way round. Maybe 1/4-1/3 of the diameter. It started to grow leaves back in April ish but they didn’t properly develop. There are still a few buds on the end of some branches that have a red tint not brown and dry like the majority. 

    I’ve topped up the compost, put up off the ground to ensure the drainage holes are clear, and supported it with a stick, so I’ll just have to hope. 

    As I said it’s in memory of my stillborn son so I really will try anything! 
    🙏🏻 Hoping for you! 
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