I have a lovely mature Japanese red maple. It used to have brilliant red leaves which deepened in colour in the fall. Over the last few years, the colour of the leaves has been rather washed out and it doesn't become darker in the fall. The leaves have an anemic red and somewhat coppery colour and the edges of the leaves look dried out. The summer of 2006 was very hot and dry (for our area) and the tree dropped its leaves early. So, this year we set up a drip system and watered it twice a week, on top of that this year was a particularly wet one. We have fertilized to no avail. I really like the graceful appearance and would hate to lose it. Any suggestions?
you use pine bark around the trunk?for me the leaves "want" more iron use Sequestrene and after two week the fertilize for acid plant ( this in sprink),for one good work use one test for PH because if your soil is acid ,the advice above aren't good..alex
These require summer moisture, if the poor appearance corresponds with hot and dry conditions that may be it. Was there a mulch present for some time that has decomposed and disappeared, leaving the rooting area of the tree exposed to the sun during this same period?
No, I have never mulched this area but I could try it. We live in Vancouver, just north of you and like you, we usually get plenty of rain. However, maybe the area under the tree isn't as moist as I think.
