Acer palmatum is a low maintenance plant that is relatively easy to grow. Most of the cultivars in this genus can survive weather and soil conditions that other less hardy plants will not. So, when your Acer plant begins to look unhealthy or starts withering it is a valid cause for concern.
Specimen Acer palmatum dissectum Seiryu – Japanese Maple Tree
The leaves of Acer trees are usually their point of attraction and if their colours start to dwindle or change to a brown withering colour there might be an underlying problem with Acer tree. The general concept of browning leaves on Acer trees is regarded as leaf scorch and may be caused by several reasons ranging from excess exposure to sunlight, dehydration, lack of soil nutrients, etc.
Here, we will discuss one of the more common acer tree problems, leaf scorch, and how to avoid it.
What causes the common Acer tree problem of leaf scorch on Acers?
- Dehydration: Acer trees are water lovers especially in their early years of growth and in hot and dry seasons like summer. When your Acer tree is lacking water, it struggles to get the moisture it needs from the drying soil and this exerts stress on the plant.
- Over-fertilising: Fertilisers are not a major need for Acer tree. They can flourish without the addition of fertilizers to their care routine because most of the nutrients that the plant needs can be found in the soil. Once you meet the condition of organically rich soil, you don’t have much to worry about. However, feeding your Acer tree with fertilizers is not a bad idea if done in moderation. These fertilisers contain do not contain equal amounts of all nutrients and excess of some particular nutrients may hurt your Acer palmatum tree.
- Physical damage of the root system: The common reasons the root system of an Acer tree experiences damage are pests, diseases, exposure to winds and extreme sun, dehydration, overwatering, frost, etc.
- Overwatering of your Acer plant does no good but rather makes the soil waterlogged causing root rot.
- Common pests and diseases that affect an Acer palmatum plant are honey fungus, aphids, rabbits, and squirrels.
- Although Acer trees are hardy plants, if not protected from extreme weather like hard winds, frost, excess sunlight, it can leave the root system weak or damaged.
Controlling Leaf Scorch on Acers
Luckily, leaf scorch can be controlled if the damage has not gone too far. How?
- Move potted Acer plants to a location where they can get partial shade and dappled sunlight.
- Water your plants adequately and be careful not to overwater the plants.
- Mulch the base of the tree to retain moisture in extreme weather conditions.
Further Reading
We have lots of other helpful content for Acers, such as common questions we have been asked such as:
- What should I plant with an acer?
- How is best to repot an acer tree?
- Do Acers prefer acid soil?
- Do Acers prefer ericaceous compost?
- When is best to prune Acer trees in the UK?
- How to take cuttings from acer trees?
- Do Acers lose their leaves?
- Acer leaf browning and diseases,
Other Acer’s you might be interested in
Acer Brilliantissimum, Acer Feeds, Acer Jerre Schwartz, Acer Altropurprueum, Acer beni maiko, Acer Bi Hoo, Acer Bloodgood, Acer bonsai, Acer Butterfly, Acer Deshojo, Acer dissectum, Acer dissectum Firecracker, Acer emerald lace, Acer fireglow, Acer garnet, Acer katsura, Acer little princess, Acer orange dream, Acer Osakazuki, Acer Phoenix, Acer Sango kaku, Acer Seiryu, Acer Shaina, Acer Shindehojo, Acer Skeeters Broom, Acer Taylor, Acer Trompenburg, Acer Ukigumo.
