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Will tonight's freeze hurt my Japanese maple?

12 years ago

I've got a green Japanese maple that's been in the ground about two years. I'm not sure of the variety and I guess it could be the straight species judging from the pictures I've seen. The leaves are "full" - not a thread variety.

We're expecting about 27 degrees (F) here tonight, and my tree has just finished leafing out. The leaves appear full-sized but they're still new and tender. A friend says it will be fine, but I wanted to ask here. Should I wrap it?

Thanks

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Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
12 years ago
Was in the upper 20's here one night last week and my maples - only just beginning to leaf out - were untouched. A big jump from warm temps to quite cold temps can trigger some problems including leaf damage and/or partial defoliation but it should leaf out again without issue. Stem dieback is another issue but I doubt you seriously need to worry about that.

I doubt I'd wrap but it's your choice.
Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
12 years ago
There are times that I appreciate living on the Great Lakes.....having a frost/freeze after bud break is one of those times.

If it's small, throw a light blanket over it, otherwise hope for the best. It may suffer leaf damage (or not). In any event, it will generate new leaves from secondary buds if it has to.
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If you have new growth on the rest of the trees, and if the dead leaves/twigs/branches are very noticeable, AND are reachable, then I would take them off. If, since 18' is quite tall, you can't really get to them, you can either pay an arborist/tree service to come in with ladders or equipment and tidy them up, or just ignore them for this year. By next year, unless it was LOTS of die-back, the trees' new growth should make the dead bits virtually unnoticeable, and they may fall off over the winter. That supposes that it's only a minor dieing back. If it was major, then yes, it probably does need to be tidied off the trees. If you opt for someone to come in, look carefully, get references, and check them. There are too many "tree services" out there who can cut down a tree, or, worst of all, top one for you, but doing careful, remedial pruning does take some skill. That being the case, it might also be costly.
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I personally would wait ... if your tree is grafted and they are coming out of the graft or below... the root stock is alive but not necessarily the grafted cultivar ... if seed grown or it's leafing above the graft you may have a new small tree/bush only...whether that is worth it or not is your decision ... It is doubtful the rest of tree will leaf but on the chance some is alive as i said I'd wait...it will do no harm and... it is what it is... whatever you do now will not effect it's ultimate except negativily..David
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I just bought a Bloodgood today, Japanese Maple. I am putting it in a large container on my deck which faces the east (morning sun, partial shade). I live in Moorhead Minnesota which is on the western border of MN next to Fargo ND and it gets to about 30 below in the Winter. Anyway, they told me to put it in the garage for the winter. Does it need light in the garage? Should I wrap it up in the garage? It is about six feet high I think. I really am not sure how you do that chicken wire thing. DO they make chicken wire that tall? Also I am not sure how tall this tree gets, but if it gets real tall it sounds like it will be hard to move. Can it live outside if it is planted in the ground?
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Did you check for any life anywhere in the bark up and down the tree? You can use your fingernail and check for any green, but actually with Japanese maple you can see if the tree is alive as it goes from green to brownish-red where it is dead. If it has any life, you might be able to save it but may need to cut it back quite a bit and protect from direct sun. We had two in a pot on the deck that burned and leafed out again when moved to our garage to recooperate. Good luck, let us know what you find out.
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whaas_5a
12 years ago
The real question is how long will if be below freezing.

It took multiple freezes/frosts and input from others to realize that is the critical point.

It can hit 27 for a couple hours and be fine.

There is still a mystery as to what the low for me was on Tues night. My therms. said 21 and 23. The official recorded low was 28. Bottom line is that my trees in leaf where subjected to below freezing temps for about 9 hours.

5' Emperor One...black leaves the next day
4' Red dragon...extremely wilted and limp leaves
2' Fireglow...black leaves the next day
7' Katsura...black leaves the next day
6' Sangu Kaku...extremely wilted and limp leaves

My shirs haven't leafed out yet...no wonder so many say to stick with this species in zone 5.

I've been told "most" decidious trees bounce back. However, Acer palmatum is one that can have more casualties than others.
HU-784782599
3 years ago
I have a Japanese maple well established about 18 years old. All of its leaves are brown and wilted. Any ideas of causes such as frost. And if so what can I do to save tree.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
Lots of causes for brown, wilted leaves, but at this time of year, frost damage is the most likely suspect.

The tree should releaf all on it own. If it doesn't, there was more going on than just a frost or freeze.

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