Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is dry more than one inch down.
- Recall if you have applied fertilizer recently.
- Look for signs of crispy, dry leaf tissue.
Likely causes
Drought stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The edges and tips of the leaves turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf may look dull. This happens when the tree cannot pull enough water to the leaf tips.
What to do: Increase your watering frequency during dry spells, ensuring the water reaches deep into the root zone. Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to hold moisture in the soil.
Fertilizer burn
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown suddenly after you have applied fertilizer. This is caused by an excess of salts in the soil that dehydrate the roots.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing the tree again until it shows signs of recovery and new growth.
Find out what's wrong with your striped maple
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaf or affects the whole tree, it indicates a serious root issue. Minor browning on a few tips is common in mid summer.
Stopping it coming back
Mulch the root zone annually to maintain consistent soil moisture levels throughout the growing season.
Striped maple: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your striped maple and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Questions people ask
- Can I trim off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can trim them for aesthetic reasons, but be sure to use clean, sharp scissors. Do not cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- In some areas with very hard water, the mineral buildup can cause leaf tip burn. If you suspect this, try watering with collected rainwater.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Striped maple
- Why are my Striped maple leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Striped maple leaves curling?
- Why are there bugs on my Striped maple?
- Why is my Striped maple drooping?
- Why is my Striped maple losing its leaves?
- Why are there spots on my striped maple leaves?
- Is my striped maple suffering from root rot?
- Why is my striped maple looking thin and leggy?
Back to the Striped maple guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.