Yes: find out for sure what, if anything you have attacking them at this time before considering pesticides. Maybe try taking affected parts to a Master Gardener clinic, a trusted independent garden center with knowledgeable staff (preferably on a slow day or at a slow time, not Saturday afternoon) or local Cooperative Extension office.

I was told by my local nursery that almost anything can be used without harm to the Maples... however, I will take your excellent advise and bring the whole thing to them and have them take a look at it. Thanks.

Your local nursery informed you incorrectly. Very few common pesticides, including those based on organic components, can be used on J. maple foliage without risk of a phytotoxic reaction. Insect problems resulting in small holes in leaves are primarily cosmetic in nature and do no long term harm to the tree. In most cases, whatever insects may be present are most often successfully dislodged/destroyed with a shower of a strong stream of plain water, nothing more. And water will not harm most beneficial insects, either.

Thanks for your helpful information. I was at my local nursery today and they told me that JM have leaves that are very attractive to insects. I also noticed on my Pixie that some of the leaves looks eaten. My nursery suggested a systemic product called Systemic Insect Control from Bonide. I did buy it because they told me it would be safe for them (Tam and the Pixie.

Read label directions, including handling and application precautions and follow them. Don't know this product specifically but "systemic" to me means the stuff is able to cross the plant's natural chemical barriers and make it poisonous to sucking pests. This means two things, the product may be rather poisonous and it also may not be of any use to you if your problem is holes being chewed in the leaves.

It's entirely possible the bugs that made the bites are no longer present. It would really be best to find out what you have on the tree, if it is even still there before proceeding with an attempt at control.

Okay, I spoke to the owner of our nursery... he has been doing this for 30 years. Its totally safe for these JM. I diluted 2 tablespoons and a teaspoon of this stuff in a gallon of water and put it just around as a soil soak.. I did the same with my Tam as well as my hosta (the slugs love them)....so far so good.

Can't speculate about your systemic, but as bboy suggests, it really would be best to find out what is causing the problem before you attempt to control it. Most pesticides will tell you not to use them around Jap. maples. I've even caused white burn spots on mine with the over spray of Miracle Grow. It will be interesting to hear about the results of your soil soak. Do the instructions say how long it takes for the product to work? How long does it last?

There is a hose end thingy called a "Bug Blaster" that is supposed to work on even the tenderest foliage of any plant. The organic folks around here say it really works. I have some large 20 yr. old seedling maples and a few named varieties, and a good rule of thumb is that the finer cut leaves are way more susceptable to damage from anything, and that includes too much water or sun also. You must have a very small maple if a gallon of water works as a soil soak. Is it in a pot? Try Sluggo for your hosta, slugs/snails won't even have to take a bite out of those precious leaves.

-Babka

Okay, so far I have not seen anymore damage. I dont know how long it will work for, but hopefully a long time. I will call the nursery and ask them when the next time I apply this. I did use it on my hosta too and it seems to be working as well.. No slugs are eating anything; at least for the last few days. Yes, both my maples are in pots. One is very small and one is very large.

OKay, I finally figured out how to post a photo.. here is what the pixie looked like after it was some buggies dinner.

[URL=http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pixiemt0.jpg][IMG]http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6575/pixiemt0.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]