HELP! Japanese Maples & new shoots just dropping off
Posted: Apr 08, 2011 1:25 am
Hello all,
Can anyone tell me why new shoots approx. 5" long with leaves would simply fall/break off? It's a large leaved japonicum variety approx. 4 ft. tall in a container. I brought it into the house overnight to avoid low temps, then set it back out the next morning. When I got home from work, several leaves and new shoots were on the ground or hanging by a thread. Could it have been the squirrels? Did my cat use the container for a litter box overnight? Was it too dry and in need of water? It was somewhat windy that day, too, but we'd had windier days prior and all was just fine.
I'm guessing it was the squirrels, but since this is my first experience with jap. maples in containers, I had to ask.
Thanks for your advice!
Kevin
Can anyone tell me why new shoots approx. 5" long with leaves would simply fall/break off? It's a large leaved japonicum variety approx. 4 ft. tall in a container. I brought it into the house overnight to avoid low temps, then set it back out the next morning. When I got home from work, several leaves and new shoots were on the ground or hanging by a thread. Could it have been the squirrels? Did my cat use the container for a litter box overnight? Was it too dry and in need of water? It was somewhat windy that day, too, but we'd had windier days prior and all was just fine.
I'm guessing it was the squirrels, but since this is my first experience with jap. maples in containers, I had to ask.
Thanks for your advice!
Kevin