What’s Wrong With My Japanese Maple?

Question

Hi, Maybe you can help. The tree developed the dry spot part-way up the trunk. No leaves appeared except at the bottom of the trunk and now appears to have two types of leaves. This was the feather type of leaf originally. Tree was fine last season. Please see the pics attached. Thanks for any help Martin Lovell

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Answer 1

Japanese Maples are always grafted to a different rootstock. Most commonly, container Japanese Maples are overwatered. this leads to root rot and death of the more sensitive top scion. Once this happens, the original root stock grows out and takes over.

Your tree has reverted back to its root stock. You will not recover the top, but you could grow the wild Maple rootstock out. Likely it is something invasive, though.

This article will explain what happened:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/can-grafted-trees-revert-to-their-root-stock.htm