hubbs red willow maple

Hi
The ends of the leaves on my hubbs red willow maple are brown and curling. It did this last year and still seems to be ok but it worries me. It seems to be getting enough water and gets a decent amount of shade. I have read that japanese maples will get brown on the leaves if they get wet and then the sun is on them which could account for some of it but not the entire tree.
Has anyone else experienced this?

 

ahttps://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/leaf-scorch.pdf

This paper from WA State may interest you

As you likely already know - the leaves you are seeing could result from various factors

I know I have learned from reading these articles ... I think @Margot (a contributor on several topics) frequently cites this author too

There is a blog as well where the author answers questions

Here are many other topics

Linda Chalker-Scott | Washington State University


I am not a plant scientist but I have learned some things the experience way - ie hindered or killed plants :(

 

thanks for your help!

 

Yes, if the leaf tips are dying the JM is not getting enough water to the leaves quickly enough and this indicates something is wrong in the root system. While it could be that it is drying out too much it could equally be that there is too much moisture in the soil which would cause poor root health and the same symptoms as too little water.

 

When did you plant your maple?

was it last year or way long ago?

 

I planted it three years ago at which time it was about 6 feet tall. It has grown about 4 feet in the past three years which I thought was evidence that it is fairly happy.

 

Sounds like it is doing well despite the leaf tip burning. Maybe you could post some pictures of the leaf damage and of the situation in which the maple is planted? It would help us to see if there are any issues that need attention.

 

This thread about a JM in New West (I think) may be of interest to OP

scorched leaves are mentioned

And the roots.

Girdling Roots - Waterfall JM

 

@yvette good morning, I think it would be better to see some photos as per M @maf request.
Here is a link on how to do this if you haven't done so before.
Attach photos and files
Just to add that at this time of the year a maple can struggle to get moisture to the leaf tips, so what you are experiencing sounds quite normal.

D

 

thank you. i will try to do the photo and i am happy to hear that it might be quite normal.

 

Hello again
Here are two photos of the leaves on my Hubbs maple

 

Hi Yvette, your Hubbs Red Willow looks very typical of a maple in a hot July if it has not received enough water. I know some do not water their established ground trees when it's dry, but I always do and I give them a good soaking. The roots of maples like to be moist, (not waterlogged) but sufficiently moist to keep their leaves looking at their best.
Just to mention, perhaps next Spring if you have a particularly dry time, then give your tree a drink once a week. This IMO helps for the rest of the season.

D

 

And yet the plants next to maple appear to be happy (a green fern?)

 

Being protected by the maple perhaps!!

 

yes, they are maidenhair ferns but I may have given them more water in the spring because they were newly planted. I will definitely pay more attention to watering the maple from now on and it does keep the ferns mostly in shade. Thank you for your advice. I didn't know that about maples and my soil is clay so I worry about overwatering but this is the front of the house which is on a gentle slope so the drainage is probably decent. The soil under the mulch always seems moist but not damp so I will increase my watering.
Thanks again for your help!