Hi Alyssa,

After I read your description of the problem, I immediately thought the problem was powdery mildew. However, after looking at your pictures I don’t see much evidence of powdery mildew on the leaves or stems. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that thrives in humid, shady conditions with poor air circulation. Symptoms include small circular white spots on leaf surfaces that can spread to coat the entire leaf or stem. The fungus causes leaves to wilt and drop prematurely. To prevent and treat powdery mildew, maintaining the tree’s health, remove leaf debris and dispose of it. Fungicide treatment this fall will not help a tree that is already infected. Here is a link to an article about powdery mildew: Powdery Mildew Disease on Trees and Shrubs | University Maryland Extension

Since your tree was recently transplanted, make sure you keep it well watered until the leaves have fallen off. The dried leaf tips are fairly common on Japanese maples. Japanese maples don’t like a lot of wind so if your tree was sitting outside in the wind at the nursery where you purchased it that may be the cause. They also don’t like hot, full sun. Dappled sunlight is best. These dried leaf tips will not harm the trees long term health. Unfortunately Japanese maples also don’t like a wet, soggy soil, so be careful not to over water. Before watering check the top two inches of soil and if it is dry, go ahead and water. I also notice that there is mulch on the soil. Make sure the mulch is not piled up too high on the trunk.

The trunk of your Japanese maple looks very weak so I would stake it until it becomes stronger and straighter.

• Stake at planting: Install stakes at planting if the tree seems flimsy or likely to lean. Place them outside the root ball for support.
• Use soft ties: Secure the tree to the stakes with soft material like tree straps or fabric. Avoid using wires that can damage the bark.
• Check tightness: Regularly inspect the ties’ tightness to ensure they’re snug but not constricting the tree’s movement.
• Remove stakes timely: Remove the stakes after about a year to allow the tree to strengthen on its own. Leaving them too long can hinder growth.
• Monitor the tree: Keep an eye on your Japanese maple tree’s progress. If it seems stable and well-established, it might no longer need staking.

Here is a link to a publication about growing healthy trees. Tree Owner’s Manual