This plant gets a lot of direct sunlight especially afternoon as it is towards the back of the house and north-west. Using an umbrella to provide shade. Not sure what else I can do.
Let me know if there is a way to save it and if anything is wrong with this plant.
Location: San Jose CA
by coach_carter2
23 Comments
https://preview.redd.it/vlxbzy24m4zf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67c8b1296073208b68bc452227b3a6292e64796a
This is a picture from April 2024.
https://preview.redd.it/5abk2i69m4zf1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b51c626033e147680e19ba7f248e45fe8efc3352
From June 2025
It’s just fall, plant should be fine.
If the maple does not have a dormancy period, it’s eventually going to die.
Your Japanese maple is likely sunburned from intense afternoon sun. Keep providing shade, water deeply but not excessively, and avoid fertilizing until it recovers; pruning only dead branches can help.
It is a deciduous tree and even in California should loose its leaves. It doesn’t have to freeze. We didn’t have any spectacular deciduous tree colors in California until they came up with this great ‘Liquidamber’ variety of a tree.
Leaf drop is normal, however this tree looks extremely thirsty
Looks like normal leaf drop. Dig out the root collar though, and move mulch away so it is not directly contacting the trunk.
Unrelated but Id remove the four bushes planted with it. Thats not a ton of room and those bushes are going to compete with the tree for water and nutrients.
Normal split leaf maple leaf drop. This is one of the 3 60 year old trees planted with our house.
https://preview.redd.it/6stysuewx4zf1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7eef30d997bb9ff11b24156def36669085f09e3
Not the Japanese maple!!! 🤣🧡🩵👀
I don’t know. I see everyone saying fall leaf drop, but it’s early for your area. Most of the time, the leaves don’t get all crinkly before dropping. This looks stressed. It also appears to be too low and/or over mulched.
When was it planted? How has it been watered, and how often?
Direct afternoon sunlight combined with reflected light and heat off the wall is probably contributing to the crispy leaves. Make sure you keep the soil moist especially with that level of sunlight. This Japanese maple typically does best in part-sun conditions. Prune any dead or damaged branches. If the branches have buds, it’s probably fine. Test an upper branch by scratching away some of the bark. If you see green beneath the scratch, the branch is alive and will push out new leaves.
isa certified arborist here) it could be verticilium wilt… prune one of the darker branches. if it has a dark ring in the cambium its a vascular disease common in most all maple species. its a soil borne disease so either replace with a disease resistant species or remove and replace existing soils and mulch if you want another Acer
My brother in Christ it is autumn
Mine all leaves dried out and fell then suddenly when fall start it regrew
Flowers and small bushes by the house. Not trees.
Also looks like it needs some water
Soil test.
New homeowner here, I have two in front of the house next to the foundation, hoping someone will buy them.
How much do you water it? It looks like a combo of live, but singed, leaves and leaves that are shriveled, as if they dried out completely. Keep the soil moist.
Am I the only one concerned about how close it is to the house?
Too much sun for the climate. Provide more shade. We are in Utah and ours are under a honey a locust tree and a birch tree. Our arborist and local nursery expert told us they only need morning sun.
Isn’t it fall so the leaves should be doing that if it is fall