Japanese Maple - die back and root prune

[CraigM]

Purchased this maple from a garden centre back in February 2016, was really impressed with branch placement and graft.

Keen to get started I pruned the tree towards end of Feb, was very happy with result... big mistake. The tree from that point on seem to shoot back with vigour in areas and I started losing some of the branches. Tried to balance growth by pruning strong shoots, but didn't really help. Anyone know why this happened, was it just too much for the tree in summer?

If you look below before repot you can see the extent of the die back, marked with red lines. Repotted this evening, very happy with the roots, pruned back all the die back. Look forward to this one starting off in spring without any major shocks.

[robc]

I have a grafted red-leafed variety of Japanese maple which looks very similar to yours (i cant remember the variety's name). I've had it for maybe a or 9 years now and every year it has dieback on just about every branch. It is otherwise really healthy and vigorous. Ive given up trying to find the cause of the dieback and have just accepted it is probably a trait of the cultivar.

If you find a way to stop the dieback i am all ears!!!

[treeman]

You have to prune JM at leaf-fall or you get heavy bleeding and loss of shoots. OR, you can prune in spring as long as you cut roots as well.

[CraigM]

Thanks treeman, keen to see this one develop / recover this season, will avoid any major cuts during growing season. Hopefully lesson learnt, lost some good structure, at least still alive.

Robc, cannot recall cultivar seem to recall it started with an S, time will tell if cultivar trait. Do you do any major pruning during the growing season, or do you stick to maintenance during dormant periods / repotting?

Was wondering if this was 'Seigen', anyone know?

[robc]

Ive done practically nothing to train my tree, so i couldn't tell you how the tree reacts to pruning in dormancy or full growth phases . It had been growing freely in a large nursery pot until last winter to thicken up and reduce the obvious graft scarring. Its now in a shallower plastic pot and i will significantly reduce the height and cut all the branches back to the trunk to start the training process soon.

Branch dieback wont be a problem if the tree doesn't have any branches!!!

[CraigM]

Thanks Robc, let's see what happens once the growth starts and results next spring.

Found the pot my tree was in, was labelled as 'Shaina'

[shibui]

Shaina is a dwarf Japanese maple Craig. My experience is that most of the dwarf forms are prone to twigs dying back, even in the garden

[CraigM]

Thanks Shibui, will see what happens this season. If I have the same level of die back, the tree will be going into the garden and will make room for something else.

[robc]

I suspect mine is a different variety (although similar in appearance and growth habits ). Shaina doesn't sound familiar and I vaguely remember my tree having and "English" sounding name.

Mine also suffers badly from leaf burn. Any strong sun or dry wind will cook the leaves. Partial shade will help keep the leaves looking OK, but will discourage the awesome red/purple colour. Hopefully the Shaina is a bit more more tolerant of dry heat.