Japanese Maple Care
Tips For Japanese Maple Care
Japanese Maple care is not terribly difficult, but it is important to learn the basics in order to have one that is as healthy as possible. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, the first – and perhaps most difficult! – step is choosing which Japanese Maple you want.
Once that decision is out of the way, you will need to decide on the best place to plant the Japanese Maple. Care should be taken to select a spot with only partial shade. Full sun is not the best choice. You also want to avoid planting too close to other plants with aggressive root systems. Finally, if you can locate an area where there will be sufficient water along with proper drainage, it will reduce the amount of time you will need to spend watering.
The hole used for planting should be of a size that the roots will have plenty of room. Additionally, you will want to match the depth with the size of the pot from which the Japanese Maple was taken.
When planting a Japanese Maple, care should also be taken to avoid the use of any fertilizer during planting. Using fertilizer could cause irreparable damage to the roots.
As for when to plant, that depends where you live. The best way to get an accurate answer is to talk to the experts at your local nursery. They will be quite experienced in growing a variety of plants and trees in your area.
Once properly planted, you should use a stake to support the Japanese Maple. While growing times may vary based on a variety of circumstances, a rule of thumb is that you will want to use the stakes for two to three years.
One of the best features of a Japanese Maple: Care is very simple once the plant begins to mature. In fact, pretty much all you need to do is place some fresh mulch around the tree each year. Of course, Japanese Maple care also includes adequate water, but in many cases this will be provided by nature with no assistance needed from you.
Pruning is not needed as the tree will take shape naturally. However, if you notice damage from frost, it is a good idea to remove the damaged parts of the Japanese Maple.
Another happy fact about Japanese Maple care is that they are not usually subject to infestation from pests. There is a caveat to that, however. They are usually not subject to such infestations IF they are planted in a proper place. As mentioned above, avoid planting them in the full sun. Specifically, you should avoid an area where the sun will hit the Japanese Maple during the hottest part of the day.
Keep in mind that if the tree is weak, it may then be subject to certain pests, but the condition can be easily treated with a proper pesticide.
Japanese Maple care is, as you have read, quite simple. Couple that with the fact that these trees come in a variety of colors and shapes and it is easy to understand why they are among the most popular additions to home landscaping plans.