Is it possible to over water a Japanese Maple tree?

Question

I have a Japanese Maple tree that I have been having a lot of problems with this summer. It seems that no matter what I do it just wants to die. First off it was transplanted from an area of pretty much shade to a full exposure area. For the first couple of months this summer no matter how much I watered it, the outer leaves and branches just kept dieing. They were obviously dried out. This past week I built a sort of retainer area around the base of the tree to ensure that the water does not run off because the tree is on a slight hill and water just tends to run off.

After this I figured that I had better catch the tree up with lots of water since the outside branches and leaves were still drying out. I really put lots of water on it and I think that I might have drowned it :-). Now it really looks bad. The tree stands about 8 feet tall at the top and everything is starting to droop big time. How can I win with the d**n tree? Have I killed it by putting too much water on it? I was really trying to get the soil wet down really deep so that just maintenance watering would keep it dry. Who knows. I really hope that I have not killed the such an awesome tree but I fear that I have. HELP me out.

Answer 1

why did you move it from shade to sun?... a good many of the J. Maples prefer shade ... full sun will burn the leaves of many of them.... especially those with the very finely cut leaves or the variegated colors.... only the big red leaves like sun... as with the Bloodgoods or Emporers.....

if you had over watered it, to the death, the leaves would all turn brown seemingly in one day.... that would indicate a drowning.....

if the tree is SUPPOSED to be in sun, the current leaves will need to die off and be replaced by leaves that can take the sun.... those on there now are not going to be healthy .... continue to care for the tree and wait for next spring.... hopefully then the new leaves will be happier... do also mulch around the base of the tree and on your little 'wall' on the downhill side where you are helping it hold onto it's water...... you did a good thing there.... since it's on a hill, I really doubt the water you're giving it is hanging around long enuff to do any damage.....

droopy leaves sounds more like shock from the move... a loss of too many roots.... suggest you continue to just water it as it needs .... feel the soil around the root ball to see if it's dry or moist and water if dry...water deep and slow....

I hope you have the name of your tree... so you can look it up to be sure what kind of sun or shade it prefers.... cuz if it's a shade lover, nothing  you do will help it be better while it's in too much sun!....

Answer 2

i think it's possible that the transplanting may be to blame for the stress the plant is suffering.  it's hard to transplant a tree successfully.  my advice is to contact a nurseryman, or a tree doctor.  if that's too difficult or too expensive, then just water it regularly anyway, and the only thing you can hope for is that when it drops it's leaves in autumn, and then spring comes again, it will come back.  once it drops it's leaves, don't water it anymore, because it will be dormant.  good luck, hope it's not too late...