How do I protect a Japanese Maple from drying out during the hot summer?

Question

I have an awesome Japanese Maple that seems to be really getting hit harder this year by the sun then it has in the past. I have upped the amount of water it gets each day as well as spraying it down after the sun drops in the evening. No matter what I do the leaves at the outside and the top just keep drying out and falling off. This tree is way to expensive and beautiful to lose but I don't have anywhere else to put it due to its size (It is really large for a Japanese Maple).

Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer 1

Is it in the ground or a container? If it is in a container put it in a spot that is more protected from the hottest sun. Mulch it well with bark or weed whomping mulch. Make sure it has decent drainage. There are a lot of olderJapanese Maples trees that are not getting much care now and have sent down roots that are deep enough to sustain them. They are like kids, the first couple of years they need extra care and attention. I is not very happy with the spot it is in whether it is the soil as well as the hot sun.One thing I notice about a lot of the japanese maples is that they seem to get a certain amount of dieback after winter. I just trim it away in spring when the new leaves appear. They are making some specific fertilizers for japanese maples now. Just don't feed heavily late in the season, new growth is more vulnerable to the cold. Good Luck!