Question
Hi
I live in Seal Beach CA and planted a Japanese Maple Bloodgood tree about 6 months ago.  It is now Feb and all the leaves have fallen off.  I assume that is normal for the winter season.  I recently noticed some of the smaller branches turning white. Is the tree dying? Is this caused by too much water?  I have been told that these maples cannot survive close to the beach - is this right and means that I cannot never have a Japanese Maple tree?  Appreciate any help.

Answer
First determine if the tree is still alive--start near the end of a upper branch and scrape a small bit of bark off the branch if the color under the bark is green the branch is still alive at this point on the branch. IF the color is not green (brown) the branch is dead at this point on the branch. If brown continue down the branch to the trunk scraping at intervals. Try other branches and if all all brown the tree is dead and should be replaced. Since it it early in the spring you might wait a few weeks and see if the tree will sprout from the roots if it does you can cut the dead off and let the new growth be the new tree. If it does not replace the tree.

Too much water can cause this. Water only when the soil around the tree get dry down to a couple of inches. Trees only need 1 inch of water per week.
This tree is moderate salt tolerant but can have problem with wind. The foliage of Japanese Maples is quite fragile, drying out quickly in high winds. Of course, this doesn't mean you have to grow the tree in totally enclosed or protected areas. Just make sure it isn't being whipped around by wind on a regular basis, and it will be fine.

Japanese Maples flourish in any well-drained soil except highly alkaline soil. Many gardeners grow them in acidic conditions, where they pair beautifully with Rhododendrons, Camellias, and Kalmias. But they are also perfectly content in neutral and even mildly alkaline pH.

The only other soil concern is salt. Japanese Maples tolerate heavy clays, loose sands, and everything in between, but they do not like salt soils. (Salt spray is another matter; they have quite a good tolerance for that!) If your soil is high in salt, consider growing your Maple in a container.


Sorry but it does not sound too promising.