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Acer Palmatum "Sango-Kaku"

susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
in Problem solving
Hi all - my young acer (about 4-5ft tall) was planted in the garden a year ago and has done well all year with plenty of leaves. Now its leaves are turning brown and falling off. I can't find out whether this is too early for it to happen, or normal - any ideas? Thanks!

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Any newly planted tree needs regular good, deep watering for the first year or two. Acers don’t appreciate drying out and this year’s hot and dry conditions certainly haven’t helped. Even if you have been getting decent summer rain, thats not usually enough. So have you been giving it plenty of water? Acers are woodland trees and do best in dappled shade, as they can also suffer from frazzled, browning leaves in sun, causing early leaf drop, so is it possible it’s in too much sun?

    My young coral bark acer, Bi Hoo (a close cousin of Sango Kaku) still has all it’s leaves in a hotter climate than yours and is now turning into it’s winter colours. It is in full shade and had regular water. I had minimal leaf crisp. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    A bit early compared to mine but normal, given the droughts this summer if you haven't been watering, but if you get more droughts next spring and summer, keep it watered - 15 litres minimum a week, all in one go and poured slowly so it soaks in - to keep it happy thru the growing season and help keep its leaves a bit longer.
    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
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    Thank you, both. @Nollie - it has been in sun, and has seemed very happy there all summer - it's only in the last couple of weeks that the leaves have begun to dry and fall. @Obelixx - I have watered through the summer, but I think probably not regularly enough. It did seem to be fine all summer though. Do you think any permanent damage will have been done? I so hope not, as it's a beautiful little tree. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    All you can do is wait and see next spring.   Any bits that are dead from summer drought or winter frosts will look grey.   Don't be tempted to prune any bits that seem dead until it is in leaf next spring and then just nip out those obvious dead bits.
    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
  • cmarkrcmarkr Posts: 142
    edited October 2022
    When branches die on Sango Kaku, the branches themselves change colour, has that happened or is it just the leaves? I had a fine specimen die after a vine wevil attack, lost all its normally bright branch colour :(
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    @cmarkr No, the branches are still lovely and red. :)
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    @Obelixx I went out and had a look, and there are no grey bits on the bark, thank goodness! :)

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Wait till spring @susiebower.  If you have frosts you're likely to get grey bits.  Just snip them off in spring.
    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
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    It does sound like drought stress through underwatering caused yours it drop it’s leaves early then, if it was happy enough in sun and the leaves didn’t fry.  There has been a lot of early leaf drop about this year because of the heatwave so you are not alone! It’s now a case of wait and see as Obellix says, good luck.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • cmarkrcmarkr Posts: 142
    susiebower said:
    @cmarkr No, the branches are still lovely and red. :)
    Good news, hopefully will bounce back in spring 
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