Is our Japanese maple dead or dieing ?

[rfuerst911sc]

We planted this Japanese 4 years ago . It was only 3-4 inches tall when planted . It is now 38 " tall so it's been growing fine . Until this year . Usually by this time of year it has new buds , there are none so far . The trunk and limbs still have the reddish/orangish color . When I bend the limbs they flex they do not break . I even gave the trunk a good pull to see if it was rooted and it didn't budge .

We had a cold winter for here in Georgia with many frost mornings . Maybe the cold stunted it ? And this spring has been VERY wet so not as much sun as usual . Also the deer like to nibble on it . So based on the pic do you think it will make it ? Is there anything I can do to help it along ? We have not used any fertilizer on it .

It is next to the driveway which gets noon to afternoon sun when it's not raining . Any advice is appreciated . And the snake on the rock is a fake rubber one

[rfuerst911sc]

The hanging cloth bag is Irish Spring soap , it helps keep deer away .

[MBAtarga]

When you scratch the bark with your fingernail on the outer branches - is it green underneath (alive) or brown (dead) ?

[Crowbob]

Most Japanese Maples, like almost all of them, are pretty cold tolerant and since it doesn’t even get cold in Georgia, the thing has a disease or something ate its roots or the soil is bad or bugs got it or too much water or not enough water or too much sun or not enough sun or…

The growth, such as it is, was probably fueled by last year’s storage. No buds equals a lost cause. 4 years is long enough for the tree to have acclimated to your sub-tropical swamp climate.

Cut bait and run.

This is a Green Cascade Japanese Maple. It’s a weeper so the growth is mostly horizontal. This year, after sub-zero temps it grew about 8 inches. It’s about 4’ tall and wide. Most Japanese ornamental maples are weaklings when young like up to age 8 or so. At that point the problem is too much growth. Lots of people plant them where they outgrow their location.

[greglepore]

Its likely not dead yet but dying. We had a early warm spring that caused our deciduous trees to leaf out early, and then a killing freeze after most had tender leaves. Almost all of my trees survived and rebudded, but I have one immature deciduous magnolia (Galaxy) that didn't sprout new buds. It still scratches green, but without leaves to provide energy it'll be dead by fall.
You can hope that yours sends up shoots from the base-if its not grafted you'll be ok. In my case they graft most mag's onto a common mag rootstock so I'll end up with a different tree even if it does.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

When you scratch the bark with your fingernail on the outer branches - is it green underneath (alive) or brown (dead) ?

I scratched the bark off in 4 places . They all look the same , a light tan like a kiln dried 2x4 .

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I scratched the bark off in 4 places . They all look the same , a light tan like a kiln dried 2x4 .

that seems bad.

[rfuerst911sc]

If I prune all the branches back to about 2 inches from the trunk any chance that would stimulate growth ? Or should I dig it out and start over ?

[A930Rocket]

My parents had a Japanese maples at their house in Dunwoody,and they were replaced too close to the driveway. Roots did a lot of damage.

I would pull it up, it with another one, from the driveway.

Be prepared for a ton of flowering, and then following off in the spring time.

Also, you may need to place a circle of chicken wire around the tree, to keep the deer from eating it. We’ve tried soap, hair, bear piss, etc. None of it works.

[greglepore]

If you think it has any chance, I'd leave it until the fall and see if you get basal shoots, if not, replant in fall, its better for the tree anyway.

[skinnerd]

Many Japanese maples prefer shade. Bright constant sunlight can be certain death with time. There are sun loving varieties as well, but you have to look for them.

[rfuerst911sc]

The space is a small accent to our front yard . A small Japanese maple is perfect and that's why we picked it . If we replace it not sure if we will go with another or maybe some type of flowering bush . The space is basically what you see in the pic . Any suggestions for something else to plant ?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

We have not used any fertilizer on it .

I would give it some fertilizer in liquid form.

Easiest way to do this is to buy some soluble concentrate, such as this and drench the soil around it once a week for about a month. That size I would use about a qt or so. Just pour it all over the root ball area.

If that doesn't help revive it - I don't know what to tell you.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-Gro-Water-Soluble-All-Purpose-Plant-Food-4-25-lbs-for-Indoor-Outdoor-Plants-Roses-Flowers-Vegetables-Dry-Fertilizer-3020506/318696271

[gacook]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

We planted this Japanese 4 years ago . It was only 3-4 inches tall when planted . It is now 38 " tall so it's been growing fine . Until this year . Usually by this time of year it has new buds , there are none so far . The trunk and limbs still have the reddish/orangish color . When I bend the limbs they flex they do not break . I even gave the trunk a good pull to see if it was rooted and it didn't budge .

We had a cold winter for here in Georgia with many frost mornings . Maybe the cold stunted it ? And this spring has been VERY wet so not as much sun as usual . Also the deer like to nibble on it . So based on the pic do you think it will make it ? Is there anything I can do to help it along ? We have not used any fertilizer on it .

It is next to the driveway which gets noon to afternoon sun when it's not raining . Any advice is appreciated . And the snake on the rock is a fake rubber one

snip

Personally, I'd do something about the bolded part. Granted, I live in Arizona so getting things to grow is a lot different here than in Georgia. Having said that, we planted some fruit trees early last year (2 pears, 1 peach, 1 cherry). The cherry was a little sapling. We bought some specialized fruit tree food that you apply to the soil on a schedule (basically once a quarter). Our trees are doing phenomenal.

Unfortunately, I cannot think of the name of the product but I'd look into that...baby trees need food.

[rfuerst911sc]

We will try some Miracle Grow and see what happens . Thanks for the suggestion .

[gacook]

Hope this helps.

https://rennieorchards.com/fertilizer-for-japanese-maple/

[quicksix]

check the soil PH
They need slightly acidic soil to be able to feed.
Pull the bark away from the root flare.
Clay soil? if so it may not be getting good air exchange at the root zone
just saw the comment about the bark being like kiln dried wood.
Not good.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by quicksix

check the soil PH
They need slightly acidic soil to be able to feed.
Pull the bark away from the root flare.
Clay soil? if so it may not be getting good air exchange at the root zone

Yep good ole Georgia red clay . But we did use the soil in the pot when planting and I think we added some vermiculite and root starter fertilizer . But nothing since . I will pull the bark chips back .

[quicksix]

The way we deal with it here in NorCal is to mound them up slightly. Gets their feet out of the heavy soil.
When we sell big ones, we go out to the site and dig a hole about 2’ across by the same deep. Then we fill it with water. Let the the first bowl drain out, while the sides are still wet we fill again and time that one. Tells us how fast, or slow, the water is moving through the soil. Then we adjust amendment and mound height.

[rfuerst911sc]

I pulled the bark away about 6 " all the way around . That left a slight bowl around the trunk . We had Miracle Gro crystals in the shed so sprinkled some around in the bowl . Watered it in per instructions .

The water sunk into the soil in 5 - 10 seconds . That surprised me because of all the rain we have had . We will continue with the fertilizer treatment once a week for a few weeks . It's up to mother nature now .

Appreciate all the advice , hopefully we can save it .