Almost the same problem with color

Discussion in 'Maples' started by paulie327, Jul 14, 2008.

  1. paulie327

    paulie327 Member

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    Location:
    New Jersey, USA
    I am a new member and this is my first post. I was directed to this forum in search of an answer about the problem with a Japanese Red Maple at my home, similar to that of Stubbs1911. It never seems to be "purplish", and if it does color, the color fades quickly. Attached are some photos. The other twist is that there appears to be two different shaped leaves in the tree. It was bought & planted about 8 years ago by a "professional" landscaper in the front yard of my home. Full sun light, well drained and watered by automatic sprinkler froma well. It is 4' tall and we trim it so it has a canopy with about a 6' spread. All other shrubs,i.e. Azaleas, Rhodedendrons, Euononyms (?) and Yews, in area are healthy. Any suggestions?
     

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  2. Worthy42

    Worthy42 Active Member

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    Follow the source of the green (different shaped) leaves to the trunk and remove the growth completely with clean clippers. You'll likely find it starts near the bottom. This will allow the tree to direct its energy to the part you want - the grafted (red) portion. This probably won't address the color issue but it will stop the tree from directing energy to undesirable growth.

    I cannot help you on the color issue because I don't know what cultivar this is and therefore what color its supposed to be. Others may know. See what happens after removing the undesirable growth. The other answer could be light, of course, but I don't think you want to move the tree. It actually looks quite healthy.
     
  3. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    No, the understock should not be
    influencing the color of the grafted
    scion - but the shoots from the
    understock should come off the
    trunk as soon as possible and yes,
    those palmate leafed shoots do
    take nutrients and water flow
    away from the rest of the tree.

    The Maple does look pretty nice
    right where it is. A fine landscape
    plant in that setting. Then again
    I like trimmed up, well manicured
    dissectums.

    Spring and Fall coloration of this
    Maple is imperative to know as
    there are some red dissectums
    that will green out like this during
    the Summer months, regardless
    of how much or how little sunlight
    they get. Even Crimson Queen down
    here are starting to green out, even
    with unimpeded morning sun from
    until midday and shortly after. Our
    Ornatum in high shade has been
    green for some time. My Oregon
    Garnet in morning shade, afternoon
    sun is greenish with bronze overtone
    in well lighted areas of the tree and
    the leaves are green where the leaves
    get minimal light.

    The books do not tell us adequately
    well what our red Maples should look
    like during the early to late stages of
    Summer. Most of the photos we see
    in the books are either Spring or Fall
    color as the brilliance of color usually
    fades out in a lot of Maples by late
    Spring. Not a good time to impress
    people with a photo of a Crimson
    Queen compared to the early Spring
    color or a mid Summer Osakazuki
    compared to a brilliant Fall colored
    plant of it. The Summer coloration
    pales in comparison which is why
    we see so little photographs of Maples
    in this stage of growth but we need
    to see these photographs to better
    identify what Maple we have later
    on. As Summer color can be just
    as important in determining what
    a particular Maple is as the Spring
    color is in some instances.

    I'll add this now that a fertilizing
    of a Maple in the very early Spring
    just as the trees are starting to leaf
    out and before the leaves have fully
    expanded is a good time to help
    perpetuate some of the red Maples
    to retain their red color longer in a
    growing season in full sun settings..

    Jim
     

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