Question
Would planting a new coral bark in same place as old one that died of blight be a bad idea?

Answer

Yes you can plant back in the same spot. When you plant dig the hole twice the size of the rootball and as deep and fill with good top soil or potting soil. Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. Water with 1 inch of water per week-place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Do this if it does not rain. Do not fertilize for the first year.
  
Bacterial blight" (Pseudomonas) is common on "coral bark maple" (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'). Symptoms could include dead buds that fail to open in spring; new shoots wilt and turn black in the spring and early summer; and one-year-old or current-year shoots turn black. Most maples are susceptible, especially Japanese maple cultivars 'Sango Kaku' and 'Oshio Beni'. Infections occurs during cool, wet weather in spring and fall.

Provide optimum growing conditions (nutrition, drainage and soil pH), thereby preventing stress to the plant. Avoid fertilizing tree after July to prevent susceptible new growth in the fall.

Planting location is essential to success with these lovely trees. In their native habitat Japanese maples are an understory tree. They like moist, leafy soil in a semi-shaded location, with protection from damaging winter winds. They cannot tolerate drought, over-watering, or heavy clay like soils. Stressed trees are prone to leaf scorch and canker diseases caused by several pathogens.


Zones: 6-8
Sun to Light Shade
Soil Preference: Will tolerate from sand to heavy clay
Moisture: Moist, well drained, drought tolerant

May not be as heat tolerant as some cultivars. Protect in shadier areas for southern zones. Also does not tolerate wind well. Susceptible to bacterial blight, plant where air circulation is good to help prevent the problem.