Bloodgood Japanese Maple Tree Not Growing

Question

We planted this bloodgood japanese maple around 6 months ago. It was dormant when we bought it, but it quickly leafed out during spring. It seems healthy, but since then has not grown at all. I wasn’t expecting it to grow quickly, but hoped for at least a little bit of growth. Is this normal?

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Answer 1

Bloodgood is a slow grower and should reach 15 to 20 feet tall at maturity. It seems you should see some growth in 6 months. The leaves look wilted so I would investigate for insects or disease.

These articles should help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/japanese-maple/japanese-maple-feeding.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/japanese-maple/japanese-maple-care-pruning.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/japanese-maple/japanese-maple-problems.htm

Answer 2

This tree grows at a slow rate so I am not surprised. Maintain mulch (around 6") all year around to minimize soil moisture loss. Growth tends to stop once overnight temperatures are below 50°F. Planting in part shade is highly recommended; I could not tell from the picture if it is getting full sun or part shade. High sun exposure might damage the leaves, cause leaf scorch or cause the leaves to turn green.