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Originally Posted by dagruber
I acquired a nursery red maple in a 5 gal. pot a few weeks ago. Great trunk and nice low branches, but the poor tree was so pot-bound it was a struggle to get it free to place in a training pot. The crown of the trunk was about 2-3" below the mass of circular roots. I pruned both the root ball and the branches back and placed it in a wide 5" deep training pot.
It seems to be doing OK, but many (not all) of the leaves are browning and curling at the edge. The tree is outside in mostly shade (morning sun for about 2 hrs) and the soil is fast draining. I don't think wind is a problem, but I'm worried about the leaves. I cut a few of the bad ones back and some new ones have emerged.
A few questions...
Would slower draining soil allow the roots more time to absorb water to keep the leaves moist?
Should the dried leaves be left on the tree or cut off?
Is 2 hrs of morning sun too much? (temps are 70ºF/50º).
Thanks for any help.
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No. Deciuous trees should not have roots worked when the leaves are out. Best time is just as buds are starting to swell in spring. If you did work on roots, then the tree will drop some because no (or not enough) roots to support. If you re-potted with some organics in your soil, then likely there is enough moisture retaining capability.
Leave leaves on tree. When the tree is done with them it will discard them naturally.
Yes maybe, but if it's truely the first two hours of the morning, probably not.
its an understory tree so it should be able to take it. Just let it run its course. If it is pushing new growth, then it is ok. Stop messing with it. Just check the soil every day in the summer so it does not completely dry out.
After re-reading your post, you should also do most of the branch pruning before the sap strats to flow. It should be ok. Read Read Read about your tree while it recovers this season.