Question:
I planted a Japanese Maple in early June. Two months ago, it started dying and now has lost all its leaves. The roots are about one foot below the surface, so none of them are exposed, and watered every five days. What can I do to revive it?Answer:
- Japanese Maples drop their leaves in the fall as a prelude to dormancy. This occurrence will delay the answer as to whether or not it can be revived; however, I’m pessimistic it will leaf out next spring.
- Here are my concerns. Japanese Maples are planted with the root ball above the soil surface in clay soils. Planting plants ‘high out of the ground ’ is critical in heavy and poorly draining clay soils to prevent crown and root rot. Water will then drain away quickly from the crown area. In sandy soils, this is not a problem.
- Unfortunately, your Japanese Maple is planted way too deep. It’s not necessary to cover every root. The number one non pest or disease related plant problem gardeners have is planting plants too deep. Mulching during the summer months protects the exposed surface roots.
- Also, your hastening the decline by watering every five days especially when the Japanese Maple had no leaves. After a month to six weeks of being planted, every six to ten days is typical. The excessive soil moisture increases the activity of the soil pathogens. Right now, I’d dig it up, and replant it with the top of the first root at the soil surface. Also, change you’re watering pattern to every two weeks until the rainy season starts. In March, I’d feed it an All Purpose Plant Food to encourage the new growth.
- By Mother’s Day, you should see new growth. If not, I would replace it.
Answer:
- Adding additional Phosphorus is not going to correct this problem.
- With nutrient deficiencies, all the bushes would be experiencing the same problem, not one out of ten.
- Your second assumption is correct. You’re dealing with genetics. Seedling roses like many other plants are unpredictable when started from seeds.
- The genes from one parent combine with a second. Flowering is one of the many characteristics that may or may not transfer from seedling to seedling. Hence, vegetative plant parts are used to produce commercial plants such as cuttings, budding, grafting, divisions, etc.
- Vegetative reproduction guarantees that every cutting will mirror the parent or donor plant. I’d then select the most vigorous cutting(s) to replace the non-blooming plant.