Leaf damage

you add more photos by replying to your own post ...

if this forum does not come thru.. try the tree forum ...

it would be nice to know where you are ... some of that looks like what i call winter damage ... which is followed by disease ... [i see LA now.. lol]

and a pic of the whole situation will help.. and how and when it gets directs sun... especially in winter.. as some of it.. looks a bit like sunscald ... or wind scald ...

more pix and info ... please

ken

This post was edited by ken_adrian on Tue, Oct 21, 14 at 16:28

Is the white on the bark related to this Web? How about the leaf damage? Or are these separate issues?

Most of the leaf damage is associated with water stress. Japanese maples prefer consistently moist soils and allowing the soil to dry excessively in between waterings typically results in the brown leaf tips and spotting. In your climate with your drought/water issues, I'm not surprised to see this, especially with a relatively newly planted, not yet fully established tree.

The bark does not look that off to me......JM's often develop some spotting on the bark that has nothing to do with insects or diseases. If these larger dark areas are not soft and the tree is otherwise growing well, I wouldn't be overly concerned. That one partial stem angling to the right in your first photo should be removed more closely (and cleanly) to where it emerges - that's very healthy looking growth present right underneath it but that stub itself is dead......see dried/dead buds towards end of stub.

Can't see the webbing clearly enough to see what may have caused it, but easy to remove and I'd suggest you do so

"Water stress" equals "ran short of water." More than once. And for an extended time.