Q: The top branches of my Coral Bark maple are losing leaves, and the tips of the leaves that remain look burnt.

Q: The leaves on my maple tree are a yellow/green, and they’re typically more reddish. I began noticing a color change as early as July.

A: In the last month, I have received so many questions about maple trees. I was beginning to think there was a trend, so I reached out to my friend Norm Mittleider, a Japanese Maple expert and certified aesthetic pruner, for his expert opinion. Norm says that due to the really hot weather this summer, Coral Barks react by “losing the first couple of inches of leaves on a stem, usually it’s on the ‘whips’. This hot weather certainly isn’t a Japanese Maple’s best friend.”

As it pertains to the color changes, Norm assures us “again, it’s just the heat of the summer taking its toll. Some Japanese Maples can’t tolerate hot, extreme weather, so the leaves brown out. It’s not going to die, and next spring there should be new leaves that appear. I wouldn’t be too concerned unless ALL the leaves on the stem or branch turn brown.”

If we experience more hot weather, there are some things you can do to take some of the burden off of maples. Water at the base of the tree consistently during hot, dry periods. Don’t forget to put wood chips or mulch down, and leave it at least three inches away from the base of the tree. Also, Norm says there are shade cloths that you can spread out over the top of a tree, if it’s not one that’s just way too tall. These can help reduce the amount of full sun the tree receives by filtering some of it out.

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