Hi there

On the Estate (Country House), a Maple Tree (very expensive) was recently
purchased and planted. The leaves appear to be scorched and this has
happened since planting about two months ago. The tree is watered daily or
every other day and not at weekends.

The tree is planted in soil which is mostly clay based and due to brick
works of long ago there are a lot of very large stones/old bricks below. The
whole that the tree was planted in took a long time to excavate with pick
axes.

The Maple Tree has been planted in-between two very large Willow Trees.

I do not want to see the tree die. Any ideas on why the leaves are appearing
scorched and the tree is beginning to look lifeless? Although the leaves
appear to be not drooping, sagging, wilting or falling, just bone dry and
brittle.

Thanks in anticipation

Ron

The answer is probably drought and more drought.
Willows are very thirsty trees .. two large ones must be draining the
surrounding soil of all water and nutrients.
The recent planting of your acer only exacerbates the problem, as its roots
will hardly have left their pot-circling formation. Given the recent
fiercely hot/dry weather, even your watering regime is insufficient.
Is it possible to move the acer away from the willows, so that it has a
better chance? If not, try and sink an irrigation pipe next to the acer so
you can water the roots directly. Also keep watering the surrounding soil
really well, then mulch to hold the moisture in and also provide a cooler
root run.
This year's leaves will not materially improve now, but they will be dropped
soon anyway. Hopefully, your tree will continue to extablish over
autumn/winter and the new spring leaves will be fine. Keep up with the
watering next year, too, as the acer will still be relying on you.
Hope tree improves.
Spider.

Ronald Green wrote in message
.. .
Hi there

On the Estate (Country House), a Maple Tree (very expensive) was recently
purchased and planted. The leaves appear to be scorched and this has
happened since planting about two months ago. The tree is watered daily or
every other day and not at weekends.

The tree is planted in soil which is mostly clay based and due to brick
works of long ago there are a lot of very large stones/old bricks below.
The
whole that the tree was planted in took a long time to excavate with pick
axes.

The Maple Tree has been planted in-between two very large Willow Trees.

I do not want to see the tree die. Any ideas on why the leaves are
appearing
scorched and the tree is beginning to look lifeless? Although the leaves
appear to be not drooping, sagging, wilting or falling, just bone dry and
brittle.

Thanks in anticipation

Ron

"Ronald Green" wrote:

Hello Ronald

RG On the Estate (Country House), a Maple Tree (very expensive)
RG was recently purchased and planted. The leaves appear to be
RG scorched and this has happened since planting about two
RG months ago. The tree is watered daily or every other day and
RG not at weekends.

Even so, it sounds very much like it's desperate for more water. The
nearby willows will also be searching like mad for the wet stuff this
summer and could well have roots nearby that are taking away a lot of
what you're putting in.

This summer's been very dry and a lot of established trees (especially
maple, mine's gone red already) are losing leaves early. A recently
transplanted tree is always more vulnerable.

You don't mention what size it is, the "expensive" suggests a
substantial tree, but it's pretty amazing how much water a large tree
needs. Your bricks below will be aiding drainage also, which ain't
really what you want.

So... I'd say leave the hosepipe on it for a couple of hours a day. A
break at the weekends won't hurt it if it's getting enough during the
week. The downside here is that if the Willows' roots are nearby,
they'll thicken and expand where you're watering, Willow is notorious
for its drinking habits, and it's not very gentle about how it gets
its water either.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/