I've had this Japanese Maple now for over 3 years
by
Sandy Bowlin
+13
I've clipped some of the lower branches of this Japanese Maple about a month ago. This is how it's growing now. Is it supposed to do this? These branches are basically bare. Did I clip to soon? Also the leaves are not looking too great, it looks like a bug is eating on them. Japanese Beetles perhaps, haven't seen many though.
16 answers
-
Those branches are new growth with only those few leaves on them and that's all there has ever been? What is around the base of your tree?
Douglas Hunt
on Sep 24, 2013
-
I would trim all branches back to give it more fullness & strength. Trimming makes a huge difference with all trees & shrubs. Mulch should be around the base of tree.
Peg
on Sep 24, 2013
-
Thank you Peg. We have one of those rubber rounds surrounding the tree, I thought that kind of served as mulch?
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
No Douglas, actually it has been a very slow grower and these branches shot up after I put Miracle Grow stakes around the dripline, but I don't understand why no leaves? And I have one of those round rubber things you can buy at Lowes to put around the base, I thought it was to use as mulch?
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
I believe you need to remove the rubber ring and let the roots get air through the soil and also you should only put 1 or 2 inches of any soil or mulch around tree base of tree out to width of the tree top grass is ok just not a build up of soil or mulch remove old and only add 1 or 2 inches for decoration
Jean Connor
on Sep 24, 2013
-
Thank you Jean, I'll try that.
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
Rhonda, I took two more pictures as you can see. The bare branches do not look dead, although at the top of a couple of them, where they were starting to bud out, it was dead, most of them look ok. No black lesions that I can see. I'm not sure if there were leaves on them before or not as I was not here for a month. Possible it got some frost damage during the spring, I did lose a tree in our backyard because of it, but this tree looks a whole lot healthier then the other tree did and (not the same type of tree).
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
So do I need to cut those branches back now?
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
I see new bud growth on those stems. If you cut it now, you run the risk of pushing even more new growth and a possible cold damage on tender new growth. It won't be long until the tree drops all the leaves anyway. My advise is to leave it as is and see what comes out in the spring and go from there.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Sep 24, 2013
-
Thank you Rhonda, you've been very helpful!
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
Thanks Donna, I kind of planned on doing that, it seems to make the most sense.
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
Thanks again Rhonda
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 24, 2013
-
I would definitely get rid of the rubber ring and replace with real mulch (which should not touch the trunk), and no more fertilizer spikes.
Douglas Hunt
on Sep 25, 2013
-
All trimming should be done in late fall when there are no leaves (it is sleeping then) Jap Maples are very slow growing. and the green leaves instead of red mean it is not getting enough sun.. I would move this either late fall or early early spring to a more sunny place. (p.s. My husband is a nurseryman)
Darlene F
on Sep 25, 2013
-
That's the second comment to get rid of it. Done and thank you Douglas!
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 25, 2013
-
Mine unfortunately isn't, but I will try to get it moved. Thank you Darlene!
Sandy Bowlin
on Sep 25, 2013
Sign Up to Answer
