Struggling plants

Question: Hi

Two plants in my yard seem to be struggling

Coral bark maple. I planted it two years ago. In the last fe weeks the portions of some limbs and branches have darkened and turned black. Maybe this was related to the big snow or maybe a virus as my tree guy says. I have attached photos. Any ideas what is wrong? If a virus do u cut away the bad parts?

Second is star jasmine. Three years old. Many of the leaves are pale or fading. Is this a natural progression or the sign of inadequate nutrients in the soil or what?

Thanks

responder: Jacki D., Master Gardener Diagnostician Volunteer (Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties) Oregon State University Extension Service Volunteer Metro Master Gardeners (http://metromastergardeners.org/) Replied April 08, 2023, 3:26 PM EDT
response: Your maple might have verticillium wilt, but I can't be sure based only on bark photos. Provide a photo showing the whole plant and that area of the yard. Maybe I can make suggestions to help, or possibly "wait and see" will be best. How did the maple look last year? Have branches been dying back each year? Here is the basic pruning publication, to help you cut the damaged limbs off correctly if they don't leaf out. The jasmine plants have had a hard time with the cold winter and spring. The hope is that when it warms up, new growth will rapidly cover up the pale winter leaves. Don't prune it hard at this point, but rather watch and wait.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 09, 2023, 10:33 AM EDT
response: Here are a few more photos. Of course there are no leaves yet so I’m not sure if these help. Thanks for all your advice. Much appreciated.

responder: Jacki D., Master Gardener Diagnostician Volunteer (Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties) Oregon State University Extension Service Volunteer Metro Master Gardeners (http://metromastergardeners.org/) Replied April 09, 2023, 11:59 AM EDT
response: You have some dead or dying branches in your maple to prune out, likely because of disease. As soon as the tree has leaves and it is dry, you’ll know which to clip back. Clackamas County Master Gardeners have an excellent video here about training and pruning Japanese maples. Yours is more twiggy than the demonstration choice, but the basics are the same. Here’s information on disinfecting pruning tools. Next, check out the Oregon Landscape Plants page for coral bark maple, scientifically named Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'. Note the photos of the plant growth habit; also internet search for your tree, add terms like “mature” and then choose images, to give you a picture of what you are pruning now to create for later. The OSU page notes that only young twigs have the winter bark color. The Landscape Plants page includes this note: “Sun to part shade, well-drained soil; protect from winds. Highly susceptible to bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae).” Your tree is highly susceptible to the bacterial blight, and the damage looks much the same at this season as verticillium wilt does. Check out the PNW Handbook page here for photos and a full discussion on the infection and pruning cautions. Time will tell how your tree fares, but following good cultural practices will give it the best chances. There’s an additional issue I’ll bring up about tree planting, in case yours can easily be corrected, and so you’ll know about it when planting trees and shrubs in the future. Plants are easily put into the landscape too deep. They are often sold in pots than set the soil line too high, so identifying the root flare at planting time is critical. The Clemson slide show I linked is long, but the photos clearly show the issues around planting level mistakes. Your coral bark maple looks like it’s too deep, so check on this. Don’t transplant your tree since it’s already stressed, but possibly pull back the soil around it. OSU Extension EC 1438 is a full publication on choosing, planting and caring for a new tree. It includes current advice against amending the planting hole, instead using only the native soil, and leaving mulch as a top-dressing only.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2023, 7:19 PM EDT
response: On Sun, Apr 9, 2023 at 8:59 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2023, 7:32 PM EDT
response: HiI don’t see a video about pruning Japanese maple trees when I click on the words “video here”. Nor do I find a video on that subject when I google CC Mg. Would you so be so kind  as to send me the specific link to training and pruning a Japanese maple. Thanks On Sun, Apr 9, 2023 at 8:59 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Jacki D., Master Gardener Diagnostician Volunteer (Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties) Oregon State University Extension Service Volunteer Metro Master Gardeners (http://metromastergardeners.org/) Replied April 21, 2023, 7:51 PM EDT
response: I hope this works. Pruning a Japanese maple with OSU master gardeners.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2023, 8:22 PM EDT
response: Yes. Thanks Sent from my iPhone On Apr 21, 2023, at 4:51 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿