Question
I planted an Autumn Blaze Maple in mid-May (Cols. Ohio). Planted the top of root ball at ground level and watered as needed given the drought we're in.  The leaves are beginning to yellow now and have small brown "freckles" on the leaves.  Evident holes/chew marks in the center of some leaves and at edges.  The top of the tree is worse than the lower branches. I have treated with Bayer tree insect killer and have changed from watering everyday to every 2-3 days depending on the heat. Tree is planted near old tree site that died 2 years previousl to planting this tree. Is it salvageable?

Answer
I would water it with 1 inch of water (tree need 1 inch of water per week during dry periods)--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Or you could deep water with a watering probe. You can find watering probes at most local nurseries. Make sure you mulch around the tree this will help hold the moisture. Newly planted trees especially those planted this late go through a stress period and will drop some leaves. the spots on the leaves are more than likely a fungus but in the over health of the tree are not a problem. A properly planted tree has a hole twice the size of the rootball and filled with good top soil and mulched with not more then 3 inches of mulch. Do not fertilize the tree for at least one year after planting. It should make it.