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Japanese Maples are one of the most popular landscaping trees in the world. Not only are they beautiful and easy to grow, but they have the ability to transform any landscape into something truly magical. Each Japanese Maple variety has a character and charm that is all its own. Are you considering adding one or more of these iconic trees to your landscape plan, but aren’t sure where to start? Japanese maples are stunning trees that are adaptable and easy to care for once they are established. Here we will explore how to care for Japanese Maples and some of the best practices for planting.
Growing Zones: 5 to 9
Bloom Color: Varies depending on the variety
Mature Height: Some varieties can reach up to 40 feet. However, dwarf varieties max out at around 8-10 feet
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate depending on the variety
Soil Types: Slightly acidic, fertile, moist, but well-drained soil
Light Requirements: Full sun. However, many Japanese Maple varieties prefer partial shade to avoid leaf scorch on their delicate leaves in summer.
Water Requirements: Drought tolerant
Japanese Maple trees can be planted at any time of the year. Most gardeners recommend planting in the spring, but that isn’t a rule that has to be strictly followed. What you don’t want to do, however, is plant your tree right before freezing temperatures hit. This is because you want the root system to get established before it experiences the first hard freeze.
If you are planting your Japanese Maple near a house or other structure, be sure that you’re providing enough clearance for your tree to grow to its fullest potential. The size of your tree will vary depending on the variety you choose. For your Japanese Maple to thrive, be sure to choose a planting location where your tree will receive both ample sunlight and adequate drainage to prevent root rot.
Note: If you have rich, nutrient-dense soil, you likely won’t need to fertilize your tree. However, if your soil lacks nutrients, or you’re growing your Japanese Maple in a pot, watering in a high-quality granular fertilizer at least once per year will give it a boost and help it thrive.
If you’re planting more than one Japanese Maple, it’s important that you space them at least 6 feet apart to accommodate their full-grown size. This is also an important consideration when it comes to planting one of these trees near any structure, driveway, or walkway. Dwarf varieties will need less spacing than the larger varieties, some as little as 4 feet. Or, if you’re planting in pots or containers, you won’t need to worry about spacing at all.
Japanese Maples are naturally disease and pest resistant. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they will never experience problems. However, it does mean that they are less prone to some of the problems that other trees commonly experience. Proper location, watering, mulching, and fertilization are the keys to keeping your Japanese Maple healthy. But even with the best care practices, scale, mites, and aphids are insects that can occasionally affect Japanese Maples. You can treat your tree for these pests naturally with horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap. For severe infections, you can use pesticides like carbaryl, also known as Sevin. Another potential pest of the Japanese Maple tree is the Japanese Beetle. We suggest parasitic nematodes and bacillus thuringiensis for effective, organic control of this pest should the need arise.
Pruning a Japanese Maple is not a necessity. That’s one of the wonderful things about this tree. However, pruning is recommended for anyone who wants to shape their tree, create a canopy, or reduce branch crowding. As a general rule, winter is the best time to modify branch structure, and late summer to very early fall is best reserved for thinning out branches. If you live in a hot and humid climate, you should avoid pruning on hot, sunny days, as it causes considerable shock damage to the tree.
Maintaining and pruning the branches of your Japanese Maple will encourage vigorous, healthy growth. If crowded branches become a problem for your Japanese Maple, there are several types of branches you might consider removing in late summer or winter:
When removing an entire branch, prune at a 45-degree angle back to the branch collar, but not into it. There shouldn’t be much of the branch left after your cut, but you should also never cut flush to the connecting branch or trunk.
Here are a few things you should be mindful of when doing branch maintenance:
Avoid pruning unestablished trees unless absolutely necessary. It’s best to allow your tree to grow for a good 10 to 15 years before you do any significant pruning.
If your young tree develops long, thin, whip-like branches, don’t remove them. Be patient. They will eventually fill out. If you cut them off, you are likely to get more of this same branch type.
Pruning Japanese Maples to control height is a fight you won’t win, and you frankly shouldn’t even try. It will only encourage faster growth and thinner, weaker branches. To avoid the need to prune your trees for the purposes of controlling height, make sure that you plant your tree in an area that can accommodate the full-grown size of the Japanese Maple you select.
Never cut off more than ⅕ of the foliage or the crown of your Japanese Maple. It will not encourage healthy growth but instead could stunt or inhibit its growth.
Avoid excessive pruning. That is really the bottom line. While aesthetic pruning of Japanese Maples is a common practice, you should only prune when necessary and on occasion.
PlantingTree has many Japanese Maple varieties to choose from. From the Bloodgood Japanese Maple to the dwarf Red Dragon and the Tamukeyama, shop our premium hand-selected trees anytime at our online plant nursery.
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