I purchased about a 6' maple in early April and it sat in it's container in my shaded back yard until last week. The leaves had begun to wilt a little despite mild, shaddy conditions so I figured I should get it into the ground and see if that would help. I planted it in my west facing front yard about a week ago (mid May) in 80-90 degree temps. I know those are not ideal conditions but I thought getting it into the ground was more important. Well since it's been planted I've given it plenty of water and the weather has been overcast but the tree's condition only seems to be worsening (more wilting, browning and dead leaves). Is there anything I can do to save my new tree???
There are lots more experienced and knowledgeable people on this Forum than I am, but I can see right off that you have likely planted it in the wrong place. First of all, West with afternoon sun, I don't think, unless shaded overhead by a tree canopy, is a good place. However, we planted a much smaller Japanese Maple last year in a patio earth area [gets bits of early morning, and some noontime sun, and sun until about 3 pm, then it's total shade from the house] and it lost a lot of leaves right after planting, and the heat and sun seemed to make it worse. Just keep watering it and misting it regularly, and it should be ok a little later on if any new leaves sprout. Ours lost the first flush of leaves but more came into leaf, although it was pretty bare. The NEXT spring it was fine. Did it dry out while it was sitting in the pot waiting to be planted? 6 feet is a pretty big tree and if it was based in a small pot, it might have dried out... worth a year's patience, though, finding the perfect partly-shaded spot for it maybe, and don't cut off any "dead" looking twigs this year. I have just moved a sick-looking small camellia which I almost threw out and which has been in the townhouse garden previously to our purchasing here, from a sunny exposed western spot to a more sheltered and dappled-shaded area in the same west-facing garden patch, along with watering and misting since the moving, and it suddenly looks 150% better after one week. A bloom has opened [the others dried up and dropped before the transplanting]. Others might respond. Good luck
