A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees Japanese Maple Tree Stuggling

My Japanese maple tree is not doing so well. Three summers ago the cicadas were out so I covered the tree to protect it. Last summer I added onto my deck, right over the tree. At the beginning of this spring we had warm weather than it was freezing weather for two weeks. Now, all the leaves are droopy and some of them are shrivled. Needless to say, this tree has taken a beating. What can I do to revive this wonderful tree?

What is the age of the tree? If its a dwarf ornamental it needs partial shade, it's an understory tree but deep shade would not be ideal. Were tree roots compacted and trampled with deck constrution? Is it getting enough moisture? For now, leave the tree alone, see that its getting enough water but don't feed it.

First and foremost do not overwater the tree. Give it approximately one hour of early morning Sun per day until it responds.

What color is the deck, and is it reflecting light and heat back up to the underside of the leaves?