Japanese Maples: Strange Year

Learn about evergreen and deciduous trees here
Post Reply
User avatar
andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Japanese Maples: Strange Year

Post by andy10917 » December 26th, 2019, 5:34 pm

I have a Japanese Maple that didn't drop its leaves this Fall - they're brown but still on the tree. Then I visited my son's place on Christmas Day and saw the same thing. That made me look at lots of them on the way home, and they're all showing the habit.

Is it just my area, or is the pattern more widespread?

Given that we've had several ice storms and snow already, I'm concerned that this could lead to lost/broken limbs, as the leaves hold additional weight of snow and ice make damage more likely.

TimmyG
Posts: 2244
Joined: May 15th, 2012, 6:04 pm
Location: Dracut, MA
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Experienced

Re: Japanese Maples: Strange Year (?)

Post by TimmyG » December 26th, 2019, 5:48 pm

I've got a few still holding on. 'Burgundy Lace' in particular caught my eye earlier today as having far more leaves on it than it should.

Ruxie88
Posts: 38
Joined: October 12th, 2018, 6:11 am
Location: Central NJ
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Japanese Maples: Strange Year (?)

Post by Ruxie88 » December 27th, 2019, 11:52 am

Funny that you mention this. I raked some leaves last weekend and pondered why my JM still has a lot of leaves on it. Many of the others in my neighborhood are in the same boat.

deboy922
Posts: 68
Joined: June 18th, 2019, 8:42 am
Location: Lafayette, IN
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Japanese Maples: Strange Year (?)

Post by deboy922 » December 27th, 2019, 2:16 pm

In north-central Indiana, my Japanese maple and weeping cherry held on to about half their leaves this year (they are usually bare by now). Other similar trees in my area also have leaves. The leaves are brown and dry, so I am not sure if they would hold on the ice and snow. Hoping the trees are OK after our dry summer and fall.

Green
Posts: 6837
Joined: September 14th, 2012, 10:53 pm
Location: CT (Zone 6B)
Grass Type: KBG, TTTF, TTPR, and FF (various mixtures)
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Japanese Maples: Strange Year

Post by Green » February 2nd, 2020, 6:43 pm

I've had this happen numerous times over the past few years. There was at least one year in which the tree still had significantly more leaves at this time (early Feb.) than it does this year. Overall, for me, it tends to be a late-dropper. But it's also somewhat protected from cold air, so that figures.


User avatar
nclawnguy
Posts: 2808
Joined: July 12th, 2011, 8:53 am
Location: Piedmont Region of NC
Grass Type: tttf
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: Japanese Maples: Strange Year

Post by nclawnguy » March 30th, 2020, 2:47 pm

Same thing with 3 of my 4 Japanese Maples this past winter. But it happens a fair amount where I am. I think it has to do with milder winters, least that's my theory.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests