Japanese Maple – Brown Leaves

Q: Is there an explanation as to why our Japanese maples’ leaves are all brown but still hanging onto the trees?

A: I’ve noticed as well that leaves on some crapemyrtles are lingering longer than usual this year. Young American beech trees hold their brown leaves through February each year but their older siblings do not. I don’t know why that’s the case for your maples or my crapes but I doubt it is harmful. If you’d prefer to see the limbs unobscured, use a leaf blower to unclothe your trees.