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Help to save Japanese Maple

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
in Problem solving
My Japanese Maple looks very dry and sad.
I had left it in the dappled shade, more shade than sun, because I know that it does not like the sunshine.
It produced beautiful new leaves in the spring.
I think maybe it didn't get enough water, or maybe too much sun got in, leaving it looking like this.
I wondering what I should do with it now to rescue it.
Should I pull off the dead leaves, trim down the branches, water, fertilise, give it sun, or shade?
Any help very much appreciated.



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Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited July 2022
    Keep it in the shade,they are Japanese woodland plants. Lots of water,(ideally rain water) do you know the variety, how long have you had it? I lost some to "windburn" a couple of years ago.... another factor.Dont feed,or pull off leaves,or cut branches.  Scrape the bark with your finger nail, see if the stem is still green 
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you - I will put it in complete shade and give it lots of water.  Had it quite a few years maybe 7 years or so.
    It could be windburn too, as there was a very windy period.
    I wonder if I should trim it down now and remove all those leaves. I'm guessing no fertiliser needed.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    My acer was in a bad way last year but I took the advice of @Fairygirl moved it into almost complete shade and it’s lots happier. It may take a while so don’t give up hope 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Has it been in the same pot for 7 years? If it has, it will have long since used up all the goodness out of the compost. The level looks very low too so it's probably dropped over the years. If it recovers with shade and enough water, move it into a bigger, deeper pot with some good soil-based compost. I think I'd be inclined to do that in spring before it starts into growth but I'm sure the acer experts will be along with advice.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Ah yes Jenny, it has been there the whole time, oh dear.
    It is in full shade now, and I will water it well now. Then carry on watering once a week, but check if it need it more often maybe ...
    Then wait for spring and repot it in a bigger pot, with new compost.
    Can I pull off the dead leaves?
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Mine get new compost ( ericaceous) every 2 years and a size larger pot if needed .looking at yours I say ,don’t cut it repot in a couple of size larger pot with new compost keep it in dappled shade if poss. and plenty of water .Make sure you water it before you re pot ……..then Hope and pray .
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    @Nanny Beach said don't pull off the leaves or prune it, and she grows a lot of acers so take her advice and leave them until they fall off naturally. I think it's because they bleed sap if cut/damaged during the growing season.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you bcpathome I will do that.
    No cutting.
    Keep in shade.
    Plenty water.
    Repot larger with new compost, watering before repot.
    Do you think I should repot now or wait?
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you JennyJ, it would have been tempting to pull off the leaves but I will not do it now. Great advice.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    To bcpathome - I just looked up ericaceous compost.
    I have the normal multi purpose compost. Will this do OK or should I get the ericaceous one, or even could there be a way to treat the multi purpose compost to make it acidic ...
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