skip to main content

Leaf scorch Burgundy Lace Japanese Maple

16 years ago

I have a 7 foot Burgundy Lace Japanese Maple that is currently being shaded by a large (60ft.) Silver Maple. I am going to have to remove the large Silver Maple which will expose the Burgundy Lace to full sun all day.

Should I move the Burgundy Lace Maple to a location that has some shade or will it be okay once acclimated to the full sun? It is on the South facing side of our home and will get sun all day. I am concerned about leaf scorch in the full sun.

If I have to move the Burgundy Lace, can I do it now? Zone 6 - Massachusetts.

When is the best time to transplant Japanese Maples in this area?

How large of a root ball should I dig up?

The reason for having to remove the large Silver Maple is because it has been eaten by caterpillars over the past two seasons and looks shabby. I have been told that the shallow root system (which is very evident in our lawn, sewer pipes and driveway) will compete with the Burgundy Lace Maple (they are about 15-20 feet apart, trunk to trunk).

Thank you.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

myersphcf
16 years ago
If I were you and you can safely remove the silver maple w/o damaging the BL in the process...I would do so and wait and see how the BL takes the sun maybe 1-2 years.and really it shouldn't be much more trouble to move it a couple years down the road it will be a big job eiother way IMHO.
It will likely have some leaf scorch or tip burn but may be acceptable and not very noticable accept up close and really you just don't know ...why waist your time and/or money doing so uneccessarily at this point. I applaud your removal of the silver maple ...one less of those trash trees will not illicit tears from me !!! David
callicarpa89
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the post myersphcf. I have been calling some nurseries and for the most part have gotten a similar response. I was afraid for the Burgundy Lace to be scorched so bad it would look horrible, but I really don't want to move it so maybe give a try and see how it fares. It seems most think it should be okay.

I understand your feelings about the Silver Maple - what a mess!
Related Discussions
Trimming Emerald Lace Japanese Maple
Q
Comments (4)
I have 4 japanese maples in my smaller sloped downward front yard. Two are dwarf ever reds which look great and I'm satified with my trimming efforts. My problem is the two split leaf regular sized green japanese maples. I purchased my house about 2 years ago and someone had "trimmed" these into a boxwood type shape. So I've been letting them just go nuts to get a little more of a natural shape back to them. I'm to the point now (or in late fall I should say) that I want to trim them back. Can anyone provide a good picture of how these should look when trimmed correctly? I've looked through several of my japanese gardening books, but I haven't found a good example to go by. And of the two larger maples, one has grown towards the sun as a typical wooded area is on its other side. This has caused it to grow toward the driveway, and over a little bit. A landscaper looked at it and thinks its too mature to train it another way now. Should you need photos of these two maples, let me know. I hope this helps ladybug too. Thanks!
...See More
Maples and Leaf Scorch
Q
Comments (3)
I've grown potted/bonsai maples in full sun as well as under 50% shade cloth. In full sun, I was watering 6 times a day at the height of summer, and under shade cloth only 3-4 times. Hot winds and lack of moisture are a bigger threat than full sun for leaf margin burn, and trees growing in the ground would also benefit from windbreaks and extra watering. As maples grow virtually throughout summer, healthy trees which are in bonsai training can be defoliated (leave the petioles) in mid summer - this will induce a new crop of leaves which will also have a more intense coloring (than if the first crop of leaves were left till autumn).. depending on timing, they will also be of a smaller size Start tapering off the watering towards the end of summer, keeping the bonsai in a dryish condition pre- autumn (though not allowed to completely dry out) and this will also help to produce the most intense color Jack
...See More
When and How to Prune Burgundy Lace Maple
Q
Comments (9)
LOL!! Pruning is never a requirement unless there are obvious structural deficiencies that need to be overcome. And if that's the case, ignoring them for 4 years may be too late to produce good results going forward. Without a photo of the tree in question to give you more specific advice, you should just observe the 3D's - removal of dead, diseased or damaged wood and any conflicting/crossing branches if they exist. When in doubt, I'd err on the side of very light pruning.....I've grown a good number of JM's, most of which have received minimal pruning throughout their lifetime other than the very early removal of any substandard branching. In general, they just do not require a great deal of pruning. Japanese maples tend to have their sap flowing quite early in the season - like now - and will bleed heavily if pruned when this is happening. It tends not to be a big deal for the tree but can freak out gardeners who are not used to it. A better time to prune JM's is in summer, when you can look up into the canopy to see where thinning should take place and dead wood is extremely obvious.
...See More
Lace Leaf Maple
Q
Comments (3)
Usually the dissectums are grafted to stem stock anywhere from a few inches to 3 or 4 feet above ground. Often, when mass is reduced in the canopy without an accompanying reduction in root volume, it encourages suckering from the stem stock which is often a completely different species than the grafted portion of the tree, so it's not unusual for a grafted tree to exhibit two distinctly different foliage types. Determine where the graft union is and prune off all growth occurring below the graft. If what I suspected is occurring, the unwanted growth will sap vigor and certainly spoil the appearance of the tree. Al
...See More
callicarpa89
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm thouroughly convinced to get rid of the Silver Maple.

Now if I could just convince my neighbor (a third time) to get rid of his which is growning, 8 feet tall, in the middle of an Azalea, with a foot between it and a fence and 4 feet away from our property. How can you not be able to tell that this is going to be a problem, even if you don't know anything about the Silver Maple.

I told him how huge it is going to get but he says he feels bad about killing it.

I wish I could buy his land, clear it and extend my garden.
myersphcf
16 years ago
Well if he knew how much more it will cost him to remove it in just a couple of years!!!But he probably just doesn't care and never will take care of it... I feel for you I have problems with one of my neighbors trees to... I got permission to cut down at my expense about three mulberries but there are just too many ...chinese elms sycamore and silver maples ...and one nice hackberry but it is two " from my new fence ...His trees have already taken out a 30 foot section of fence and part of my shed roof ...several are bout 8 feet from his house 40-50 feet tall ... I hate to wish ill will on someone but they diserve to be on his house roof not my property...I really have a hard time liking this guy and stay away from him cause of temptation to just call him a complete jerk !! David

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 12 Japanese Maples for a Sunny Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

The right maple in the right place shines in hot summer sun

TREES 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Great Design Tree: Japanese Maple

By Annie Thornton

Lacy form and fiery fall color make Japanese maple a welcome tree for garden or patio

GARDENING GUIDES 13 Japanese Maples for Shade

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

A surprising variety of these understory trees is waiting to make a statement in your shade garden

RED FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Red-Leafed Mukdenia

By Annie Thornton

Creamy white blossoms give way to splashes of scarlet with this energetic, dramatic ground cover

FALL GARDENING Houzz Call: Show Us Your Autumn Views

By Annie Thornton

Share your pictures of fall foliage and decor in the Comments. Your photos may be featured in an upcoming story!

WINTER GARDENING Great Design Plant: Gold Collection Hellebores Perform Like Stars

Exciting colors, longer bloom times, forward-facing flowers ... These hybrids leave old hellebores in the dust

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants for Colorful Fall Foliage in the Water-Wise Western Garden

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Try these colorful, drought-tolerant additions to your garden for a fall season filled with color

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: Fall Foliage With a Contemporary Twist

This fiery autumnal display relies on simplicity and ample spacing to create a distinctive panorama

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The Weepers and the Creepers: 10 Intriguing Trees for Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Bring something a little different to your landscape with a tree that dives, twists or crawls

Sponsored

More Discussions

Usugumo HTF : Hard to Find

2

Acer First Flame

3

Nursery Container Mediums - Sand ?

0

Scion Height When Grafting

0