I planted my sango kaku this may. It is in a sunny location but receives sufficient moisture. Our summer was also the mildest yet, no days over 27C/80F. In mid-June the tips of the leaves were already browning, especially around the outer foliage. In mid-August I noticed the leaves around the outer foliage were already starting to drop, especially at the top. There are however relatively "cleaner" looking leaves in the inner foliage. My feeling is that it's just sun scorch and there's nothing to worry. But I just want to see what you guys think.
it looks like its something to do with water stress, i have the same thing with my orange dream that i have moved a few times. sun scorch on my maples is less of a tip burn and more general burn over broad of leaf. not an expert but that would be my guess, anyone else have any ideas?
I'm not an expert either, but it is my experience that leaf drop in the beginning part of September (or even in August) is not unusual for a newly planted palmatum. In your place I'd not be worried. (Then again after some years at it, I'm pretty zen about whether most palmatums survive or not... )
lol well for me, this sango kaku is my baby! So I wouldn't be too zen about losing this one! But anyway it's just peculiar to me that considering how mild our summer was and the fact that the soil is evenly moist, that the leaves would show signs of sun scorch or water stress. I guess I should mention that I have planted companion plants too, but I don't see them competing for moisture since the soil is evenly moist.
It does take these trees a couple of years to get their roots under them. Honestly early leaf drop is not unusual for a palmatum planted that year. The fact that the inner (shaded) leaves are looking pretty good is a good sign. -E
Thanks, I'll lay off the worrying for now. Btw, the leaves that have already fallen off are collected, scrumpled up and used as mulch for my tree. I figured that they would make good mulch and organic matter. However I recently read that it's actually bad to do so because the dead leaves can harbor fungi and deseases over the winter. Any insight?
I've used leaves but from the general "collect" not the specific tree. Now moving to shredded bark everywhere although it is a lot of work in the spring time! Results are so far good in spite of some warnings. I know the practice is discouraged for known-ill trees, like a peach with leaf curl or pyracantha with spot, since the fungus overwinters in the leaves and comes back stronger than ever the following year. But certainly leaf mould is a great soil conditioner. -E
