Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Japanese Maple

Valerie 7Valerie 7 Posts: 59
in Problem solving
I bought this beautiful Japanese Maple nearly three years ago and it has been doing really well, but this year, although it budded up along with the rest of the tree, it seems that the middle section has died.
Should I just cut that piece out even though it'll leave a big gap? And how should I try to prevent it happening again?
Thanks Valerie 

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes, cut the dead bit out, but try and be very careful and not cut into live wood as the tree will bleed sap profusely. I'd leave about 6" of the dead wood to prevent that. You can cut that stump off in the dead of winter when the tree is dormant (usually mid-January).

    There are 2 things I can think of, the most likely is a lack of water. I have the same problem with one of mine where a big chunk has died.

    The other much less likely reason maybe verticillium wilt.
    When you cut the dead bit out, look at cut end and see if you can see any black rings. That's a sign of VW. The other sign is black patches (that look like bruises) on branches that seem to be ok.
    In the unlikely event it is VW there's nothing that can be done.
    One of my acers has it and it's ok, but I have to keep cutting chunks out of it each Spring. Clean any tools used with meths or oil to kill any virus on the tools you've used to prevent cross contamination

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Scratch the bark (gently) on the bit you think is dead just to make sure, if there is any green, it's still alive so leave for now. A couple of my Acers have branches where the buds are slow to open this year. I think it's lack of rain and these drying winds. If it's definitely dead then do as advised above.
    AB Still learning

  • Valerie 7Valerie 7 Posts: 59
    Thank you for your advice. I have scraped at the bark in a couple of places and, whilst I cannot see any obvious green, I am now not convinced that it's totally dead so I am going to hang fire for a while and see what happens. If I do decide to cut this bit out then I will definitely follow the guidance to leave a six inch margin as that makes complete sense to me. Thanks again, Valerie 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    That's the best plan Valerie
    On my one, some of the dead branches were obviously dead - if I bent a bit it snapped off.
    On other dead-looking parts the ends of the branches just bent and didn't snap which indicates there's still life there - at the moment at least.
    Give it a month or so and see how it goes. Fingers X'ed

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    It's a good idea to open up the centre of the shrub to let more light in.  
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I would not try pruning Acers at the moment, unless you are sure you are taking off only dead wood, because they will bleed and it can be a serious problem.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Valerie 7Valerie 7 Posts: 59
    Pete.8 said:
    That's the best plan Valerie
    On my one, some of the dead branches were obviously dead - if I bent a bit it snapped off.
    On other dead-looking parts the ends of the branches just bent and didn't snap which indicates there's still life there - at the moment at least.
    Give it a month or so and see how it goes. Fingers X'ed
    Some of the thinner bits are definitely still bendy 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Then there's hope for us both! :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Sign In or Register to comment.