After 3 years in the ground here in the Pacific Northwest on the shores of Puget Sound, the branches on this about 20 ft. high Brandywine Maple are "arching", sagging, and many bending from wind this winter. It's habitat is columnar and should not do this. I pulled away any mulch or extra soil to reveal the top of the root ball. It came burlaped which we pulled away when planted. It has been loosely staked so there is movement in the strong winds so the root system can develop accordingly. I have had to shorten some of the limbs to take the weight off and prevent more limbs from breaking off. It has some blackening on the leaves. It was watered well when we planted it in the winter and then according to the rain amounts during the year.