We live on Long Island in NY (Zone 7) and have a Japanese Maple in our shady backyard that is over 50 years old. It is about 25 ft. high and about as wide. It has always been one of the last trees in our yard to lose its leaves; however it is now January '13 and although the leaves are shriveled up they have still not fallen! We know something is terribly wrong. Is there anything we can do to save the tree? moderator's note: moved topic to more appropriate forum
Ruthi1, welcome to Garden Stew! This year has been exceptional, weather-wise. A lot of our plants are acting "funny" due to warmer/colder/wetter/dryer conditions. If I were you, I'd check the bark to see if it is whole and healthy (no little borer holes or peeling) and make sure the roots haven't heaved with freeze/thaw cycles. If the bark and roots look fine, I'd stop worrying. Some trees react to temperatures rather than daylight hours, and your maple may just be keeping its leaves until it seems cold enough to drop them. I don't think anything is terribly wrong, except the weather patterns! (I'm in Texas now, but was in upstate NY for over 25 years, so I know how changeable and challenging weather in NY can be).
Thanks, Marlingardner, I hope you're right...that would be a great relief...it has been unusually warm here....global warming, I guess.
Hey ruthi, I have a Japanese Maple that I planted 5 years ago. I am in zone 5. This year, my tree held onto its leaves a lot longer. In the past, the leaves have dramatically all fallen off in as little as an overnight! But this year, I did notice that they did shrivel up and linger on the branches. I attribute this to it adjusting itself to the rather harsh, dry, drought conditions of this past year. I suggest keeping the tree well hydrated. Should be fine. Good luck, they are such wonderful trees!
Thank you, Kay...I'm encouraged. The tree looks healthy...getting plenty of rain...we've got our fingers crossed. It would be a pity to lose such a treasure.
Pick a pencil thin branch and scratch the bark with your thumb nail. If the under bark is green the tree is alive. One other area to gently check is bark integrety at the soil line. What you do not want to find is large plates coming off with the under bark damaged or missing.
