Question
QUESTION: I LIVE IN LONG ISLAND, NY. I PLANTED A CRIMSON KING AND AN OCTOBER GLORY IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.  THE WEATHER THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN VERY MILE AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF RAIN.  THE TREES WERE PLANTED IN AN AREA WITH FULL EXPOSURE FOR MOST OF THE DAY.  THE LEAVES ON THE CRIMSON ARE BECOMING DRY AND CURLED, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN WATERING REGULARY.  THE OCTOBER GLORY HAS SMALL BLACK SPOTS ON MANY OF THE LEAVES AND SOME OF THE LEAVES HAVE DAMAGE.  I HAVE FERTILIZED WITH THE PHC TREE SAVER SOLUTION.  CAN YOU TELL ME WHY I AM HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, OR IS THIS TYPICAL OF NEW PLANTINGS?

ANSWER: It is typical for hardwood trees planted out of the normal planting season to under go a stress form the heat and moisture. (best time to plant hardwoods is in the Fall or early spring before they leaf out). The fertilizer would do more harm than good since it may burn the new roots. IF you have not done so mulch around the trees with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk and water every fourth day with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. This is called deep watering. Assuming the trees were not planted too deep they should be ok (the top of the root ball should be at ground level.

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QUESTION: Thanks Jim, I have mulched and it may be a little thick.  Any thoughts on the black spots on the leaves on the October Glory?  Shall I fertilize in the beginning of next season.

Answer
These are leaf spot caused by a fungus. I am going to guess it is Phyllostict leaf spot. A leaf spot that infects late in the growing season causes very little damage except maybe the leaves will fall earlier than normal. If you want to control the fungus the leaf surface would need to be sprayed with a fungicide in the spring. A large tree would be difficult to spray and in my opinion not worth the effort since the damage to the health of the tree is slight.
Phyllosticta Leaf Spot of Maple. Pathogen: Phyllosticta minima

Like many fungal leaf spots, this disease affects a number of maple species, most prominently Amur, Japanese, red and silver maple. The disease causes little damage because the infection is localized. Spots are roughly circular and develop into tannish spots with purple to red borders. Later in the season the spots often contain black fruiting bodies of the fungus arranged in rings inside the lesion. Although this disease is quite noticeable in the landscape, especially on silver and red maples, and causes concern among homeowners, damage is minimal and fungicides are rarely necessary. If fungicides are required use a labeled product containing mancozeb or chlorothalonil.  
Most fungicides are sprayed early in the spring to prevent leaf spots. You could try a fungicide it should keep the spots from spreading but will not make the ones that are there go away. Check with your local nursery for a fungicide for leaf spots on trees.

I would hold off on the fertilizer for another year. This will give the roots time to spread and then when you fertilize make sure you use about half the recommended rate on the package. OR use 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 cup per inch of trunk diameter for these small trees. And make sure the fertilizer is watered in good.