AusBonsai

Hey guys, im just being cautious, i know maples loose their leaves in the winter, but i just gave it a water and literally a bunch of them just got washed off with the light sprinkle, they also have a funny color on them, i just wanted to make sure it was nothing to worry about - just it coming into winter ??

They havnt been touched, been watered less with the wet/cold weather we've been having lately, havnt moved nor been repoted.

These are a few of the leaves, notice the blackish markings forming... Thanks in advance!

Looks like they might be too damp, this time of year you can cut back on watering.
When my maples are out of leaf, I spray them with a dilute solution of lime sulphur to prevent any fungal issues, I spray my benches too.
(Trees with leaves on them do not like this treatment)

Very interesting Gerard

how often to you do this through out the winter months and do you use this method on any other types of deciduous trees ?

If so at what rate miture do you use and how do you apply spraying.. soaking tree ...or misting .

is 10ml /litre of water enough?

as you know i now am getting a collection of maples of my own so this may come in handy .

Cheers

10ml per liter is good. I do not have much concern with the elms but I know tat the maples are vulnerable to fungal attack

thanks mate i also have some maples in very thin pots not by choice but thats how they came can you also spray roots of the maples?

Hi Scooter.
Thay look burnt to me . Maple leaves are very thin, and too much direct sunlight, throw in strong winds, and real hot days, can cause the leaves to burn on the outer edges. Frost too. So depending on where you place your Maples can have a huge influence on them . As long as they get some sunlight, even dappled sunlight. And not out in the open where they're unprotected.
As Gerard stated, a diluted lime sulphur spray at this time of year can control deseases/fungal attacks. And this helps get healthier leaves come spring.

I actually spray all my bonsais, deciduous and leaf (no needles, only leaf) with a very diluted lime sulphur spray at this time of year. Natives too. And never before it rains. Make sure the spray has time to dry.
I'd like to hear what the really experienced growers do with their Maples.
Woody

Scooter it is normal for maple leaves to fall at this time of year. the tree shuts off the base of the stem but they are just held on until something (wind, watering, etc) knocks them loose like you have done.
There may be a little fungal damage on those leaves but the tree has shut them off so it should not be hurting the tree. It is natural for dead plant material (these leaves are now dead) to start to rot so again, probably no issue for your tree. you can use a fungicide if you want but cleaning up fallen leaves, cut back on water and most important - plenty of sun and fresh, moving air is the best preventative.