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Coral Bark Japanese Maple Trunk Discoloration: Cold Injury

Young coral bark maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku') losing coral color, trunk turning gray-brown, one branch blackened and leafless: classic cold injury. Coral bark maples are highly susceptible.

Management

Check trunk for splits/cracks; these are entry points for decay.
Prune dead branch back to live wood.
Fertilize with all-purpose tree fertilizer.
Water during dry periods.
Monitor for further dieback.

Prognosis

Tree may survive if cambium alive below discoloration. Coral color may not return fully on old wood; new growth should be colorful.

Plant Diseases: Coral Bark Maple Decline: Balancing Water in Pacific Northwest; Coral Bark Maple Black Sap Spot and Mottled Leaves: Graft Incompatibility; Japanese Maple Black Stems and Wilting: Sooty Mold from Insects; Coral Bark Japanese Maple Borer Infestation: Treatment Options; Japanese Maple Bark Loss at Base: Borer Treatment and Vigor Boost; Sunset Maple Decline After Root Damage; Can You Split a Multi-Trunk Coral Bark Japanese Maple?; Bihou Coral Bark Japanese Maple: A Yellow-Barked Cultivar; Japanese Maple 'Coral Bark': Brilliant Winter Bark and Golden Fall Foliage; Moving Large Japanese Maples: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Determined

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