Japanese Maple

Q. I have a beautiful dwarf Japanese Maple that has very finely cut leaves and until last year they were a very deep red color. I planted it about 10 years ago. The trunk is almost 3" in diameter and it's about 3-4' tall and spreads out about 6-8'. My yard backs up to a white pine & oak woods (which my Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas appear to love). Recently some of these trees have grown on their own in my yard and made it mostly shady rather than partly shady. Is it possible to relocate the Japanese Maple to a sunnier spot? If so would I do it after it loses its leaves in the Fall? If not I could remove the nuisance trees which aren't really desirable types mostly silver maple oak and white pine that appeared in the past 5 years or so. If I remove these trees would it be best to do it now so that the shade doesn't impair the tree any further?

A. You have an unfortunate occurrence. I hate to see you attempt to move the well-established maple as that is what you like the most. The other trees are not wanted there and are creeping in taking valuable light water and food. I would remove or cut back the nuisance trees rather than risk your maple. I have seen maples moved when well along in years but some have succumbed to the disturbance. It is far better in my mind to rid yourself as soon as you can of the interferences. Drastic trimming is a possibility but short of that then cut them off at the base and in the spring dig up the root system as best you can. Do not wait until the spring after the leaves have emerged.

Q. I have a Japanese maple (Osakazuki a somewhat lanky tree form) which has dead spots on the leaves with a discrete border around them. The spots are small and the rest of the leaf looks healthy but there are a lot of spots and they are becoming more abundant. Somebody at the plant store said it was fungus and sold me a traditional fungicide I recently bought an 'organic' one with I think copper as the active ingredient. Haven't used either of them yet. I am interested in:

1) do you think that is the problem and
2) what can I do to help the plant in addition to treating the fungus itself? I'm thinking maybe soil amendments of some kind?

A. Yes I thought immediately as I read your post that you are experiencing a fungal attack. It is quite common but must be treated as it will not just go away. Copper has proven to be an effective ingredient to combat fungi. I recommend that you use it as prescribed on the label and do the approved follow-ups as this is not a one shot cure.

As for soil no there are not amendments to be added to kill the fungi. But any infected leaves which you trim off and the ones fallen to the ground must be collected bagged and hauled far away. Pick up any evidence of the spots wherever you see them. The spores spread in this method and fly thought the air in the breeze from tree to shrub to tree!

To me it sounds like you have the second fungus not the first but I decided to include both descriptions for you below:

Tar Spots of Maple: Pathogens: Rhytisma acerinum Rhytisma punctatum

These dramatic but inconsequential diseases of numerous maple species cause tar-like spots on leaves which can reach almost 24 mm (1 inch) in diameter.

Symptoms first appear as yellowish spots on the upper leaf surface. Later in the summer a black tar-like mesh of fungal and leaf tissue develops within the yellow spot. Some early leaf drop may occur but is not considered serious. Fungicide treatment is usually not necessary.

Phyllosticta leaf spot of maple: Pathogen: Phyllosticta minima

This disease affects a number of maple species.