Where are you located and have you any pix?

tj

Thank you for your response. I am in Brooklyn, NY. Here are a couple of pics!

Well, you picked the worst time to plant a tree. Keep a circle grass free two or three feet from the trunk and mulch it keeping the mulch away from the trunk. And speaking of the trunk, can we see a pic where the trunk enters the soil? You need to see the root flare. How are you watering?

tj

Keeping it properly watered is about the best you can do for it now. Do you know what cultivar it is? That spacing may be a bit tight for some larger growing varieties.....

Here is the trunk. Just to make sure I understand: I need to make a circle of radius 2 feet free from the grass. I can edge it. Inside the circle I will put mulch but leave a few inches free around the trunk, say a circle

of radius 5 inches. Am I understanding this correctly? THANK YOU

It is planted too deep. You need to see the trunk flaring out where the roots begin. You can correct that in the fall. For now, water with a slow trickle from a hose next to the trunk for 20-30 minutes to soak the rootball and then don’t water again until the soil feels dry 4-5 inches deep into the rootball. Also, that stake is too tight and I’d remove it.

tj

Since it’s at the center of the lawn, which I water twice a day for now, should I water the maple separately?

Yes, water separately. Lawn watering is nowhere near enough and you need to be sure the original rootball is hydrated.

tj

Trees generally require a longer and slower, deeper soaking than does a newly planted lawn. If you are watering the lawn for a few minutes twice a day, you probably want to supplement the maple a couple times a week with a longer soaking. I typically suggest the hose at a low trickle placed at the root zone long enough for the water to soak down to the full depth of the rootball. But the frequency will depend on your soils and your weather.

I would also avoid having the lawn grow up to the base of the tree. Lawns are greedy plants and can compete with the young maple for moisture and nutrients and delay or impede establishment. You can also easily damage the tree by mowing or weed whacking too close. Keep a wide mulch ring surrounding it...at least 3' diameter.

ETA: tj, we were writing at the same time :-) Did not intend to over-write your comments with my own. We are at least thinking alike!!

Thank you all for your help. i cleared the area around the trunk. The leaves don‘t look healthy today, though it was a very hot day here. Once the lawn ihas grown a bit, I’ll put and edge and some mulch. Right now walking on the lawn feels like walking on egg shells 😆

I would rig up some shade until this tree has a chance to settle in and get established.

You can make shade with stakes, clothespins, and a sheet.