I have been away for 2 weeks and my Japanese maple looks burnt!

Will it come back? What should I do?

Is it newly planted? It looks like it needs a drink. Any other info you can give us would great.

The tree is planted last Oct. I has been all fine until this summer. We only have 2 days of rain and very hot. I water it once a week. Maybe too dry. I never water it under the sun but it still looks so burnt. donI just water it more now?

Thats too bad, was a really interesting shape. It looks as if it is in too much sun w/ no water. Mine only likes partial.

Do a scratch test to determine whether its alive: scratch the bark with your fingernail. If the bark is hard, dead. If the layer under the bark is brown, dead. If the layer under the bark is green, alive.

Japanese Maples can't take afternoon sun and the soil must be kept moist at all times.

Keep watering it and let it sit for another season. It may recover. I don't agree that Japanese maples can't take afternoon sun. Some can and some not so much. Depends on the tree.

Hi Daisy,

Scratch test should do on main trunk or any branches?

I would try both. Just to see how extensive the damage is, if any.

Seems fine, I scratched them lightly with my nail and they are all green in different spots of the stem.

I also searched on YouTube, someone said I should apple something like a sunscreen on the foliage because my maple is on my south east facing front yard with no shade. Strong direct sun.

Shekay said:Seems fine, I scratched them lightly with my nail and they are all green in different spots of the stem.

Yay! I doubt it will leaf out again this year but keep is watered so this doesn't happen again. If it is a red-leafed variety, it can take more sun. If it was fine all summer until you left it on its own for 2 weeks, it will do fine in the current location. I wouldn't coat the leaves with anything.

Next time you go away for two weeks, ask someone to water.

I'm in zone 6 have many dwarf maples. Yours looks dehydrated and sunburned and it will recover. They don't like direct sun dappled shade they are an understory tree and roots prefer constant shade. Once established they are pretty tough trees. Fall is here and sunburn will leave leafs looking shriveled. This time of year they will lose some of the new growth stems. Wait till next spring to trim them off.
Other than the direct sun scald and fall leaves shrivel too, it looks ok to me.there is green on stems great sign. It has the winter to grow and strengthen the root system . Give it time and patience it will come back good as new next season . It looks like it's in a good spot for winter with some protection from cold icy winds.

First pic 5 yrs and second pic over 40 years old.

Oh, I feel relief! Thank you all your responds! Bumplbea, your maple looks beautiful!

Daisyl, mine is a red maple!

I have planted and then lost several Japanese Maples, often when they are several years old. They have been different cultivars and planted in different exposures. Only one survives. My understanding is that JM's are under study trees and do not like hot exposures.

Thanks and next season your will be a beauty!