12 foot is a pretty big tree. How large a rootball did you plant? Describe the planting procedure. Was it in burlap or a huge pot?

What have your local temperatures been like?

Its a bit after prime time for spring planting. Like you figure, I suspect we're looking at stress. Did you fertilize or anything like that?

Stick your finger a few inches into the root ball to see if its getting wet. Sometimes with larger transplants there is a difference in soil texture between what they're in and your yard. You can have the root ball not holding water or holding too much. Although shriveled leaves sounds like not holding water.

Drizzle water directly onto the rootball. Repeat as needed.

The root ball is about 3' across and 2' deep, It is wrapped in burlap. A hole was pre dug and the nursery delivered the tree by trailer to my back yard. They slid the ball off and into the hole. I filled in the open spaces with dirt and built up a small mound on top with dirt and topped off with mulch. Temps have been normal, Low in the upper 40's. Have not fertilized. I'll try to post a picture. Thanks

Yes, the likely scenario is that the field soil root ball is dry inside and not taking up water. Here I see dried out specimen-sized shade trees (often maples) like yours planted in a wilted condition on commercial jobs over and over. Such unfortunates may be delivered to the job site, then sit around, drying out for some time before going back into the ground. Otherwise, if the plants have not been carefully handled, with at all times a view to protecting them from drying out during the entire sequence from grower's field to final planting site they may even be delivered in a dried out state.

If yours was in leaf and looked okay upon arrival, then immediately went downhill it was probably already on the dry side before you got it. Inadequate covering and/or sprinkling of the roots could be enough to keep the leaves turgid but not enough to keep the majority of the ball from continuing to become ever more dry. As soon as it got out of the previous situation and into the different conditions of your garden the drying of the ball manifested in the leaf damage you are seeing. If you dig into it and find dust beyond a moist outer layer, then that is your situation. Water slowly for a long time to get the ball re-moistened.

Remove the soil & mulch you put on top of the rootball. It will divert the water away from the roots.

Then drizzle water directly onto the rootball. Repeat as needed, probably every several days for the next month or so.

I like the advice above.

Did you notice if the landscapers left the burlap in place?

yes to the burlap. The nursery said to leave it on. I finnaly got a picture. Thanks for all comments.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I like your yard. When that maple is showing its colors in the fall it is really going to stand out against the back drop.

Post the name of that nursery. I'll look the number up and call & hassle them. Even if the rootball was wrapped in toilet paper what advantage could there be to leaving it in place other than get the employees out of your yard and to smoke some dope sooner.

If its a nice wire reinforced rootball and the wire wasn't cut its a problem for sure. Your tree will have to grow roots through the wire.

With that darned burlap in place you have another barrier to keep the water out.

Ug. I'm getting angrier. With big trees I can live with setting the tree in place with the burlap on so the rootball stays in tact. Then use side cutters to cut the wire off and remove the burlap. Lazy lazy lazy. Even if burlap biodegrades

"The Bottom Line
 Balled and burlapped plant materials usually contain soil significantly different than that of the
transplant site.
 Differences in soil texture will impede both water movement and root establishment.
 Root defects can only be found and corrected if root ball soil is removed.
 Proper root preparation combined with best practices for installation will greatly improve tree
establishment and survival in any landscape."

Here is a link that might be useful: The Myth of Collapsing Root Balls

Do you think it's worth exposing as much of the ball as I can, tearing away the burlap and applying water dirrectly?
Thanks for all comments.

"Do you think it's worth exposing as much of the ball as I can, tearing away the burlap and applying water dirrectly?"

Yes. And make sure the root flare is above grade.

tj