Problem with Autumn Blaze Maple? Picture Links
gpoitras
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (7)
gpoitras
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Autumn Blaze maples - do you think they will survive?
Comments (17)Thank you very much for all of the helpful replies. I guess I will wait till fall and see how things go, and be prepared to replace them if they don't survive another summer. First of all, here are a couple of photos of the trunk of the one in the yard (the worst one). You can see where I recently dug out the excess soil piled around the tree and attempted to get it at the level it probably should have been at when they planted the trees. Dwrecktor, it sounds like your experience was very close to mine. Do the pictures above look like your trees did? How long was it between the time your trees were planted and when you removed the excess soil? Mine will have been in the ground for 3 years in September. I sure wish I had known to do that right away. Arktrees, great suggestion on the perc test - I will do that. I do know that the soil is heavy red clay and there isn't much topsoil since they took that away when they built the homes. As a rule, our soil tends to be slightly alkaline from what I've heard. It gets very hot and dry here in the summers. Any suggestions as to what might be a good replacement tree? Since my house faces south, a shade tree is a priority. Other considerations are something that will be less likely to blow over or lose big limbs in our storms, won't overwhelm my small lot, and if it produces something edible (like pecans or fruit) that would always be a plus. Drought and heat tolerance would be pretty high on the list and it would be in full sun pretty much all day on that side of the house. Of course I don't want anything that will mess with the driveway/sidewalk/foundation or plumbing, though maybe that last one isn't a big deal with new construction. I welcome any and all suggestions. My personal favorites are maples and birches and blue spruce, but that's probably the Canadian in me :) I'm guessing none of those would do well down here? I'm guessing the burr oak comment was a joke? What is a chinquapin? Are there any small pecan cultivars that would make a good yard tree, or are they all huge? Also, I was reading about Caddo maples that are native to SW Oklahoma - has anyone had any experience with them? Thanks again everyone for all the helpful replies and for not making me feel more like a total idiot than I already do lol...See MoreAutumn Blaze Maple form
Comments (7)Ken, as I stated in the original message, I am only asking out of curiosity...I am NOT complaining about the shape...only making an observation and asking a couple of questions about it. As a matter of fact, I rather like an irregularly shaped tree, so if it doesn't turn out to be an oval as I had believed it would, I'm perfectly OK with that...if it turns out to be oval, I'm OK with that, too. In regards to my comment about growth rate and not planting big anymore...as you state, I know now that a 5' tree planted 5 yrs ago would probably net the same size plant as I have today. This is true, which is why I now only plant smaller plants. I have learned my lesson. I am disappointed in the ABM's growth rate, as I was believing that I would get faster growth than I have (I would say my ABM has only grown about 6" per year the past 4 years). I did not expect fantastic growth the first season or even the second season, but the claims I read about 3+ feet of growth each year made me think that I could expect more than 6" each year, especially these past couple of years. This season, so far, I've seen a little over 6" of growth already and am hopeful that the faster growth is on it's way....See MoreLeaves turning on Autumn Blaze Maple
Comments (14)It is amazing. Speaking with the farmer behind us he believes his corn is about 2 weeks behind because the rainfall has come down in very short periods and mostly run off. On top of that most of the large rain producing systems have gone either north or south of us so far. It all evens out in the end so of course last night and today we got pounded with rain. On the bright side I will not have to water it for a while. The mulch now does look kind of weird compared to the way everyone else piles up mulch to the trunk. Hopefully as it grows I can expand the mulch ring and keep it not as deep so that it is more flat and does not draw attention to the flare as if it disappears into a hole of mulch. Thanks for all the advice and I will keep an eye on the tree the rest of the summer and provide updates. My hope is that the tree is putting a lot of energy into creating new roots so that way it can take up nutrients and plant itself firmly in the ground since it is in a very windy location. Then in the next couple of years it can start adding height. Kimberly, keep me updated if your tree retains its leaves. Mine have been red for a few weeks and none have dropped. My hope is that they will stay on for some time and then those branches will leaf out again next year. Do you have pictures of the tree? I would be interested to see if it looks the same as mine posted. I hope I can ask one more question: When a tree is stressed and drops leaves early, does that branch also die? For example, on the couple of branches that all the leaves are red, do the leaves just die off or does the branch usually die off and need to be cut out the following year? My thoughts on the landscapers/nurseries that sell the trees are they are much more short sighted that what we believe. I think it is not much about selling you another tree down the road when the one they put in dies. I think it is about the process of putting it in. They came with a 2 Â 2.5" caliber tree with a large root ball and a bag of mulch. They left with nothing. I would think that once they dig this big of a hole, plant the tree and use some to backfill, they would be left over with quite a bit of clay from deep in the hole. Instead of taking it away they just pile it on top of the root ball, cover it with mulch and leave empty handed. If you think about it, and they had to take away just a few buckets of soil from each tree they planted, this would create a problem for them with what to do with it. It is much easier on their part to plant wrong that do what is right. It is too bad because if they would have just left a pile of the soil that was not needed, I could have found a use for it....See MoreAutumn Blaze Maple Problem
Comments (5)nurseryman33, thanks for reviewing and responding to my post. I have given the tree a closer inspection. The dying leaves have now spread to about four branches. The branches are not physically damaged. The buds look good, where the leaves still look good but out toward the end of each branch, where the leaves are dying, the buds are dying too. I noticed that on both dying leaves and healthy ones, there are very tiny little bugs/mites. They are black and hard to even see (smaller than bits of pepper). I now wonder if I have some type of insect infestation. I will do more internet research. Your response is appreciated, thanks. This post was edited by Redwing2 on Sun, Sep 1, 13 at 10:21...See Moregpoitras
14 years agogardener365
14 years agoiforgotitsonevermind
14 years agocubsfankc
14 years agogardener365
14 years ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDESBlues Blaze Into Fashion for Fall 2012
Sashaying down designer runways and sported by trendy home interiors, this cool hue is looking to be way hot this fall
Full StoryHOUZZ TV FAVORITESThese Spectacular Views of Fall Foliage Will Lift Your Soul
Soar over picturesque New England and Midwest landscapes to see glorious autumn scenes
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES13 Japanese Maples for Shade
A surprising variety of these understory trees is waiting to make a statement in your shade garden
Full StoryTREES11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form
With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting
Full StoryMATERIALSWoodipedia: Maple Is a Marvel Around the House
A heavy hardwood with lots of potential, maple appeals to modern sensibilities and won't break your budget
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNGreat Design Plant: Vine Maple
Exciting year-round color and adaptability make this highly ornamental native small tree a top choice for home gardens
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESYour Floor: An Introduction to Solid-Plank Wood Floors
Get the Pros and Cons of Oak, Ash, Pine, Maple and Solid Bamboo
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASGreat Garden Combo: Fall Foliage With a Contemporary Twist
This fiery autumnal display relies on simplicity and ample spacing to create a distinctive panorama
Full StoryFIREPLACES10 Unexpected Ways to Style a Gorgeous Fall Mantel
Been there, done that with the pumpkins and corncobs? Try these wonderfully fresh ideas for a beautifully decorated mantel this autumn
Full StoryFALL GARDENINGHouzz Call: Show Us Your Fall Color!
Post pictures of your fall landscape — plants, leaves, wildlife — in the Comments section. Your photo could appear in an upcoming article
Full StorySponsored
Mike Larkin