Pruning a laceleaf in the summer

Question

I pruned my laceleaf a month ago, and now it looks like the tips are dying. Was it a bad idea to prune it in the heat of the summer. Will it grow back again, or will it die?

Answer 1

If you are referring to a Japanese Maple, it would have been better in late spring. j*p Maples tend to have thin bark, and you may have just subjected it to direct sunlight in the heat. Keep the plant moist, and if possible create some shade for it until is has an opportunity to recover, or cooler weather arrives.

Later, when you can evaluate how much damage was done, you can remove the dead.

They can be pruned when dormant, or when actively growing. But just before spring, the sap will begin to flow fron the roots to the stems. If you cut it and it bleeds, stop immediately and wait for later after it has sprouted and hardened off some.

Topcatt

Answer 2

water well and take a cutting to the local nursery for evaluation.

Answer 3

tip burn is common on laceleaf maples in summer... we can rarely keep the humidity levels right for them when it's hot and the dry winds blow... that, and too much sunlight are the usual causes...(add hard water, too!)..... not pruning... the new leaves won't have the brown tips and next year, they'll all be fine... until it's hot and dry again.....not much we can do... it's going to happen.......

from this site...

http://www.highwayhardware.com.au/garden...

"Most maples, especially lace leaf varieties are slow growing. They grow best in a moist, well draining, fertile soil preferring protection from mid summer sun and hot drying winds to avoid leaf tip burning. "

and...

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1...

"The delicacy of the leaves makes them vulnerable to heat, wind, and hard water, all of which can burn leaf tips and edges."