Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have this red japanese maple which I bought from a nursery last summer. It survived its first winter and recently leaves starting appearing. However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer? If it’s dead should I amputate? 2. Could the entire tree be in peril? Kim (Seattle)
Kim: I have had some personal and professional experience with that same problem, and have done some research as to the cause. The answer is "yes", most likely that brach has died off. But as the previous posts suggest, be sure to scratch the bark to check for green. Cut the brach where the brown ends and the green starts (most likely at a node). Do not worry too much. Although the empty area left by the pruning is usightly (and will be for a few years), it will eventually fill in with new growth. You can also train newer pliable growth with copper wire as you would a bonsai, but this may take as long as allowing it to fill in naturally. Preventative measures are guesswork for me since I cannot see the conditions your tree is in, but you can follow these basic rules of thumb: – Avoid exposing Japanese Maples to windy locales. This will dry out the foliage in cold conditions and kill off branches. – Water the tree thoroughly during the winter just as you would the rest of the year. Japanese Maples need lots of water. – Use frost cloth to shield it from frosty and windy conditions (if they exist in your area) during the winter months. Also, check for mold and/or mildew if you are in a constantly humid area. Hope this info helps. Good luck. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Thanks. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If it’s dead should I amputate? Yes, and take it to the cooperative extension office for diagnosis. What is this office? How do I locate it? Kim, I replied to your other post with the subject header "What does it mean when a branch dies?" and provided you with the information regarding our local extension office – you are in Seattle, right? If you need more details, feel free to let me know. Pam – gardengal Seattle
Response:
Kim, There are many of us that would love to know the answer to that and lots of other questions! I’ve got a peach tree right now that has fruit the size of golf balls with full sized leaves on most of its branches and yet it has two branches right now that are just budding out. I checked them and found them green, so I left them alone. But why on a mature tree, would two branches out of ten or so, bud out and bloom a good month behind the rest? I’ve got an apple that is loaded with even larger fruit that has decided to put out a second bloom on the same branches nearly two months after its initial bloom. The tree that is supposed to provide pollen to ensure better fruit set hasn’t even bloomed yet… Of course, we did have an unusually mild winter… but this kind of mystery happens in one form or another every year. susan, who needs to thin her peach and apple trees… maybe later 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The branch is likely dead, but to be sure, scratch the bark with your thumbnail. If it’s green, it’s alive, and simply late emerging. If it’s dead, yes, amputate. How big a tree did you get? They’re my faves. Why would one branch emerge so late? The others branches already have leaves an inch long on them. On the one in question you can’t even see buds. I did scratch it and it was green. So I guess I’ll leave it on the tree and see what happens. I got it last sumnmer at about 5ft and now it’s about 6ft or a bit more. Kim I have this red japanese maple which I bought from a nursery last summer. It survived its first winter and recently leaves starting appearing. However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer? If it’s dead should I amputate? 2. Could the entire tree be in peril? Kim (Seattle)
Response:
If it’s dead should I amputate? Yes, and take it to the cooperative extension office for diagnosis. What is this office? How do I locate it?
Kim, I replied to your other post with the subject header "What does it mean when a branch dies?" and provided you with the information regarding our local extension office – you are in Seattle, right? If you need more details, feel free to let me know. Pam – gardengal Seattle
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If it’s dead should I amputate? Yes, and take it to the cooperative extension office for diagnosis. What is this office? How do I locate it? Kim
The cooperative extension service is an information and technology transfer agency operated by our state land grant universities. Nearly all, if not all counties in the US have such an office. Assuming you reside in the USA, you’ll find a listing for it in the government pages of your phone book, in the county government section or in the state government section, among the listings for your state university system. Your state CES may also have a web site. regards, Dennis
Response:
If it’s dead should I amputate? Yes, and take it to the cooperative extension office for diagnosis.
What is this office? How do I locate it? Kim
Response:
However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer?
Hard to say without seeing it. If it’s dead should I amputate?
Yes, and take it to the cooperative extension office for diagnosis. 2. Could the entire tree be in peril?
Do a web search on "Verticillium wilt" +maple. The death of one branch or 1 side of a tree is symptomatic and it is fatal. Good luck! regards, Dennis
Response:
I’ve never seen one do that. Perhaps it’s in less light (not likely, I’ll admit), or there may be something else wrong with that branch. It’s funny that it doesn’t even have buds. Is it an important one for the structure of the tree? BTW, while it’s still small it is good to remove crossing branches, competing leaders and such to train the tree to the shape you desire. (You likely know this, but others may not – I see lots of these trees in horrible shape several years down the road.)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The branch is likely dead, but to be sure, scratch the bark with your thumbnail. If it’s green, it’s alive, and simply late emerging. If it’s dead, yes, amputate. How big a tree did you get? They’re my faves. Why would one branch emerge so late? The others branches already have leaves an inch long on them. On the one in question you can’t even see buds. I did scratch it and it was green. So I guess I’ll leave it on the tree and see what happens. I got it last sumnmer at about 5ft and now it’s about 6ft or a bit more. Kim I have this red japanese maple which I bought from a nursery last summer. It survived its first winter and recently leaves starting appearing. However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer? If it’s dead should I amputate? 2. Could the entire tree be in peril? Kim (Seattle)
Response:
The branch is likely dead, but to be sure, scratch the bark with your thumbnail. If it’s green, it’s alive, and simply late emerging. If it’s dead, yes, amputate. How big a tree did you get? They’re my faves.
Why would one branch emerge so late? The others branches already have leaves an inch long on them. On the one in question you can’t even see buds. I did scratch it and it was green. So I guess I’ll leave it on the tree and see what happens. I got it last sumnmer at about 5ft and now it’s about 6ft or a bit more. Kim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have this red japanese maple which I bought from a nursery last summer. It survived its first winter and recently leaves starting appearing. However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer? If it’s dead should I amputate? 2. Could the entire tree be in peril? Kim (Seattle)
Response:
The branch is likely dead, but to be sure, scratch the bark with your thumbnail. If it’s green, it’s alive, and simply late emerging. If it’s dead, yes, amputate. How big a tree did you get? They’re my faves.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have this red japanese maple which I bought from a nursery last summer. It survived its first winter and recently leaves starting appearing. However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer? If it’s dead should I amputate? 2. Could the entire tree be in peril? Kim (Seattle)
Response:
I have this red japanese maple which I bought from a nursery last summer. It survived its first winter and recently leaves starting appearing. However, upon closer inspection I observed that one branch has no evidence of buds let alone leaves on it. 1. Does this mean that this particular branch is dead or simply a late bloomer? If it’s dead should I amputate? 2. Could the entire tree be in peril? Kim (Seattle)