Planting A Japanese Maple Tree

The initial stage of planting a Japanese maple tree, whether individually or on a commercial scale, is a decisive moment for the life of plant. Certain cautionary steps can increase the growth rate and this endeavor will turn out to be profitable. The chosen site for the plant should be selected keeping in mind the sunlight, the flow of air and the condition of soil.
The digging of the site is the first step when you have made it sure that the site is fulfilling all the necessary elements.

Digging involves certain steps that should be flowed in order to get the desirable results. Take out the soil out of the ground, the amount of soil to be removed from the ground usually depends upon the size of roots but it should span 2 to 3 times the size of the root system. This is to accommodate the future expansion of the roots which need an extra space. If this proportion is ignored at this stage then it is possible that the roots will intermingle with the neighboring trees.

If you are planting the tree for the indoor then it usually involves the use of pots and containers. In that case the structure of roots should be spread across the whole container, this way the plant will easily manage its roots over the period of time. But this process should be done with some caution as roots are most sensitive part of the pant and needs extra attention. Think of the roots as a human brain, they control all the major functions of the plant including transportation of water throughout the plant so too much expansion of roots at this stage can cause them to lose control of the different sections of the plant.

Always try to place the plant in a container in the best possible way which usually means in the centre of the container, this is reminder because at this stage you can easily adjust the position of the plant which becomes quite difficult once the plant is fully established. After doing this you can fill the rest of the container with the suitable soil.

The plant most of the time comes in a bag made up of jute fabric, there is no need to remove them before putting the tree into the soil, the reason behind this suggestion is that the jute fabric will disintegrate by itself. But to make ensure that the roots will spread across easily you can remove this bag. If the bag is made up of any other un-dissolvable material then it should be certainly be removed.

Only smaller shrubs and trees come in the bags, the larger trees are mostly available with baskets. Before planting the larger trees you must remove all the metallic objects attached with the baskets, but it is suggested not to remove the basket as this action can damage the root system that is securely placed inside the basket. One thing that should be taken in account at this stage is to ensure that the roots get easy access to the soil and this can be achieved by drilling some openings into the basket.

After planting the tree make sure to water the plant immediately so that it can recover all the moisturizer that is lost during this hectic job. You can also try making a loop around the tree in order to limit the supply of water only to the single tree, which sometimes proves to be very useful as in most cases without this loop the water will not reach properly to all corners of the tree.

Japanese Maples Planting Tips

Certain factors dominate the life of a Japanese maple, the shallowness of its roots, the need for acid or neutral soil and protection from extreme weather are to name a few. It cannot be more effectively emphasized that when you are about to plant maple tree your course of action will be guided by these factors. Take the shallow roots for an instance which demands the moisturized soil and easy water access. This factor gives an opportunity of planting them into shallow pots, which can sometime be very handy. It is this feature that gives them edge over many other plants as well, as they can be easily placed inside the buildings of homes and offices. If the soil is alkaline, try adding easily available organic substitute for acid or neutral soil. The bottom line is very clear that there are many ways to overcome problems associated with these trees.

To increase the growth of Japanese maples, conventional methods like the use of fertilizers can greatly help. If these are planted in the garden then obviously they will require more fertilizers as compared to potted plants. A restricted amount of fertilizer in the winter season for potted maples can amazingly increase the growth. These plants should be watered when the water is completely dried out. Mineral water will do no good for them as the amount of associated minerals can change the composition of natural balance. The expert gardeners suggest the use of water with great care as it constitutes the greater part in their photosynthesis process. Rain can act as a great tonic for these trees and you should not worry if they often get a shower of rain. This does not only give them a refreshing look but also helps in maintain them the correct order of minerals.

Japanese maples enjoy the most colorful outer layer of stems which for the plant act as protective tissue and for a spectator a true realization that nature can sometime be very surprising. The colors range from green, orange, pink, yellow and red. The true intensity fully arrives in the sunshine of winter, the more it is exposed to the sun in this season the more the colors gets intensified. Many maples come into full bloom in the springs, and color with the freshness gives he very rare beauty to the environment. The fading of colors is a process that is runs throughout the year without a break. If there are no leaves, a condition that happens on particular season, even then it gives an altogether mesmerizing matchless looks to the ambiance.

The good behavior of this plant will give you pleasant surprise. Take for an instance the problem of fallen leaves which is the most common trouble with all the trees. But Japanese maples are so well behaved regarding their broken leaves. They not only decompose too quickly but being light weight they are easily blown away by normal day wind. This will not only save much effort on the cleanup but eventually will give a neat and clean feeling of the environment. The trimming is easier than any other tree. Every now and then they require a little pruning that will keep them tidy, and over the time you will learn that it is really a fun job. The roots are shallow which solves an impending problem associated with trees that over the long period of time the roots of many trees become too much invasive that handling them sometimes requires professional help but Japanese maples are free from such trouble making.

Japanese Maples Growing Tips

Growing Japanese maples is surprisingly easy, whether in the ground or in containers and caring for them is simple and straightforward. No distinction need be made between caring for a red Japanese maple, a dwarf Japanese maple or any other type; they all have the same care requirements. Providing they have a balanced and natural growing medium, their fertilizer needs are minimal and have only modest, and consistant water requirements that are easily achieved.

Major pruning can be undertaken without any worry of damage and trimming during the growing season can also be helpful in controlling shape and size. Transplanting, even of older trees, can successfully be done at the right time of year with the correct planning and moving from container growing to open ground cultivation is a simple task that requires no excessive preparation.

Pests are mostly absent from a healthy, vigorous Japanese maple and this applies equally to fungal infections. A drying up, dying or dead tree, particularly if it happens shortly after you've bought it, is rarely the fault of the gardener as symptoms don't happen overnight, but with the correct advice and care most can be brought back to health.

Fuller details of caring for, pruning and all the other information to grow Japanese maples well can be found in the cultivation section.

If you are looking for information on grafting Japanese maples there are a number of articles in the propagation section if you fancy having a go!

The first article is written by and reprinted by kind permission of Ken Tilt, after whom the palmatum cultivar Dr. Tilt is named and is a description of the method used by Harold Johnston. Harold has been propagating for more years than most of us and is responsible for introducing numerous outstanding cultivars; Abigail Rose and Beni shi en being two of many.

A second article on budding and grafting woody plants has now been added. Many of the techniques described are applicable to Japanese maples. This article is reprinted by kind permission of R E Bir and T E Bilderbeck; Extension Specialists, Nursery Crops and T G Ranney; Assistant Professor, Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, College of Horticulture and Life Sciences.

A grafting slideshow and faq has now been uploaded and the sequence of events illustrates the entire process of producing a new plant. The method shown is probably the most widely used in commercial production and lends itself to both winter and summer use. The text and illustrations have been reproduced by kind permission of Dr. William B Shell.

Information specific to summer grafting has been uploaded and a further slideshow has been uploaded illustrating an alternative method to the traditional side veneer graft. A Grafting Aids section has been added and this contains information on tools and other subjects of interest to the propagator.

It might seem odd for a Japanese maple nursery to be giving away the tricks of the trade as it were, but most of the information is already on the internet; it's just a question of finding it. By gathering it in one place it might encourage the enthusiastic amateur to introduce something distinctly different: there is still no variegated linearilobum on the market! Some illustrations of possible future introductions can be found here and there are probably many more waiting to be noticed in a corner of someone's garden. I will also put all the articles together eventually as a .pdf file for those of you who might want an easily printed reference.

There is also the possibility of producing new cultivars in the laboratory where greater control over the required characteristics can be achieved. The process, known as somatic embryogenesis or protoplast fusion, aims to join the cell nuclei of two or more separate cultivars to produce a brand new cultivar that is then grown on in vitro. My own experiments nearly thirty years ago, using enzymes used in Heinz baby foods to break down the cell walls prior to fusion, resulted in predictable faiure although I did develop a taste for stewed apricots and rice! The technology then was back of the envolope stuff although huge prizes were on offer in the orchid world for the first un-related bi-generic hybrid. The technology has now become quite sophisticated and is routinely used on a wide range of trees and shrubs.

Also to be added shortly to the cultivation section will be articles on pest and desease control without chemicals and better compost. Essential information on better compost can now be found here. A small sundries section will also be placed here in time for next year's growing season. This will contain items that are used at the nursery in the production of Japanese maples such as rock dust, Azotobacter and Trichoderma and which can be of benefit to gardeners. A directory of sources of propagating equipment and supplies for USA and UK gardeners will be uploaded soon.

Finally some inspiration! The two illustrations below are of plants that are well over 100 years old and are as vigorous now as they were in the nineteenth century. The photographs were taken in late summer, by which time the red of the early part of the season had faded to bronze. When these were planted the range of cultivars available was nothing like it is today and good red forms were non-existent. The tree in the centre of the right-hand illustration is in a steep valley and the photograph was taken looking down on it; its size is not immediately apparent but is approximately 45ft. tall and and slightly less across. The cultivar in the foreground is Katsura, one of a number of plants grown by me for this garden; 12ft. wide and 8ft. tall and, at 17 years old, a mere sapling! The plant in the immediate left foreground is Karasugawa, a cultivar that apparantly shouldn't be grown in full sun. Behind Karasugawa and slightly to the left is Seiryu; planted on a steep slope at the same time as Katsura, it is now as high as Katsura is wide. The lack of some leaves is due to the shoots being knocked against the spiked plant alongside. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on each illustration.

Japanese Maples Are Good For Long Term

Winter in the western world is more often covers itself with the white blanket of snow. Indoor plants do not get as much affects as is the case with garden plants and trees. The frosty trees lost all the charm and colors in the chilling weather. Japanese maples are drastically different in a manner that they will keep the garden blazing with the lovely colors throughout the winter and the rest of the year. Any person who loves to raise plants knows the fact that it is only for a small part of the year that most of the plants get full bloom, but these maple trees are just the opposite of the stated description. Throughout the year they maintain their vivid colors and for a small amount of time they become green or become leafless. And this is just not true for handful of maples but it is the distinctive nature of all the varieties.

Japanese maples as their name suggest were originated from Japan, and they have many native species, but most of the time this name is referred to two unique varieties. The first on is the full moon Japanese maples. The get this name all due to the shape of its leaf. Fully rounded leaf resembles strikingly with the full moon. Moreover the leaf is about half feet in diameter which makes it a treat to watch. There is another maple tree that carries green leaves and is a renowned plant for the shape of their leaves. They are called fern leaved Japanese maples, and are easily recognizable for this structure of their leaves.

Japanese maples and Acer palmatum are interchangeable names of the same tree. With its staggering amount of verities, it is surely this tree is surely the king of its species. Over 1000, distinctive verities are a staggering amount to say the least. But most of the time round about 150 of them can be easily purchased in the open market. The amount of varities easily communicates the fact that it is not only famous across the gardeners but it is equally appreciated by a large population of the world. This claim can be verified, as they can be found in number of courtiers all across the globe.

Facilities for gardeners

Japanese maples are available in range of sizes and most of them fall in the favourite dimensions of the contemporary gardens. It is only the matter of imagination on the part of gardeners because the sizes of these trees are equal to any challenge. All over the year they act as very well behaved trees as they offer little resistance against any sort of pruning. Apart from one or two well known curable disease, there record is clean for any major catastrophic disease. When it comes for the vivid colours their leaves bear then we can hardly find any other rival in this category of competition. From sparking colours like red, yellow and orange to the soothing hues like green, it offers a tremendous potential for the creativity.

Leaves are not the only attractive part of this charming tree, the site of it can equally be enjoyed when it does not bear any of them in the specific seasons. Almost all kind of geometrical and abstract shaped leaves are associated with different types of this fancy specie. As they come in many different sizes so they provide much needed adaptability to any sort of the available space. The larger ones can be put across a passage, the smaller ones can add ornament to any corner of a garden.

Japanese Maples And Their Year-round Appeal

Japanese maples always remind us of the autumn, but this is not an accurate picture of these lovely trees. They can flourish throughout every season, which makes them a plant of every season. The spring season provides them vibrant colors like red and copper brown.

These may sound too shocking colors, but shocking is not a right word for these wonderful trees as they naturally adapt with the ambience. In summers, the leaves get soft and light colours which add joy to the entire environment. Even though the trees have no leaves during the winter but their structure would have been a fresh addition to the surroundings. The vibrant stems of some maples will leave an impact on the senses of the viewer.

Adaptable Tree

Several types of Japanese maples can fit in different places and situations as well as their versatility ensures they are handy constantly. Take the example of Weeping range, their bulgy shape is apparently dipping in water if planted near a pool or water fountain. Allowing the viewer wonder whether fountains are made to adapt with this particular wonderful tree.

Small sizes usually are positioned in the most busy parts of the home and offices. This boosts their visibility and in this way their beauty can be appreciated by a lot of people. Terrace is yet another important place in any building and we can add the taller trees here to make them more elegant. Furthermore the larger trees can be utilized to make a lane, which will give the fresh feeling to anyone passing through them.

Not only Japanese maples have looks that dazzle the surroundings, they are affordable as well. As with any general item, the rarer they are the more expensive they get. Same is the case with the rare range of these trees, which should not trouble any Japanese maple lover, because it is only the case with the rare species. If you are looking for an affordable maple tree and can sacrifice its vigor for some part of the year then there is handful range waiting for you. Japanese maples with green leaves fall under this category, in autumn you can enjoy the charming colors of orange, yellow and red for which these trees are famous across the globe.

With affordable prices you can easily give exotic look to your favorite places. Planting a Japanese maple is a good idea if you want to stay in the limited budget. The only thing you really have to care about is the trouble of pest. They can give a hard time to the development of the plant, as in some cases they can cause them to die as well. The most commonly available pesticides can prove to be a good option at this stage of growth. But this period of care is limited. Japanese maples will take care of themselves once they reach to a mature stage of age. And you can enjoy the glowing colors of these gorgeous trees.

Once fully planted Japanese maples have to have a good two-three hour of sunshine in the morning.. And in the hottest period of the day you need to use some kind of shading to prevent any damage to the leaves.

In the hotter areas of the world this becomes more of an important instruction to follow, as shading turns out to be an excellent way to avoid direct sunlight. If good care isn't shown in connection with this it could burn the leaves and ultimately will damage the natural colors. These instructions won't seem too much demanding to a plant lover as each plant comes with its own list of do’s and don’ts.

Over the time these instructions will become the part of your habits, and you will not feel when you are doing any activity. Once you have made them as your habit then you can certainly manage number of plants without any extra burden. This will prove to be beneficial even if you are planning to produce these Japanese maple trees on a commercial level where you have to look after large number of plants.

How, When And Where To Grow Japanese Maples

How, when and where to grow Japanese maples

The seasons change throughout the year, and each season has its own looks and there are many plants that manifest their beauty in them. But there are hardly few plants which are not known for their seasons, but it is the season that is known by them. Japanese maples proudly lie in this category of plants. How do we know the winter? By its chilling snow, by its icy landscapes, well winter is just not about the white color, it is about orange, red and yellow as well. If all this sound a bit surprising then let me add a missing detail, it is Japanese maples. The elegant green flora exhibits the mentioned colors in full vivid outburst. On a chilling autumn evening a visit to a garden having these beautiful plants will make you astonish at the fact that the broken leaves of these plants are like whirling flames.

Japanese maples otherwise known as Acer Palmatum are the local breed of China, Korea and obviously of Japan, from where these charming maples get the first part of their name. Lush soil of acid or neutral nature is the most favored place that these small trees bloom. Don’t worry if you have got alkaline soil in your area; try to grow them in large pots to enjoy the enriched experience. As these plants have shallow root system, for this reason moisture gets top priority in their daily needs. A nice suggestion would be to water the newly planted maples to fulfill this requirement. This might sound like the plant cannot endure the dry soil which is not exactly the case. It can grow in un-favored conditions, but the downside is that it will not carry the same liveliness for which it is known.

As with every beauty, there come bunch of instructions to maintain it, this is somewhat the case with dazzling Japanese maples. It cannot stand the direct hot sunshine, and in many cases turns the foliage into green. So you should avoid planting these delicate trees in the areas where they have to face the sun. A shade can solve this problem if the sun is unavoidable in your area. This way you can save the exotic and exciting species from burning. There are levels of burning, initially the colour of leaves start to faint, this is the first indication that there something wrong with the plant. If this is ignored, the plant will get severely damaged over the time. If you are planting the tree because you found them wonderful then you should pay some attention to save them from fatal damages.

When it comes about the variety, Japanese maples will make you astonish just as it does with its looks. With more than 100 varieties it is surely going to give you the much needed freedom of imagination. Apart from staggering diversity in colors, these amazing trees come in different sizes as well. So this also gives you a choice to put them almost anywhere in the home from the dining hall to your auspicious lawn. These trees have height from 3 to 30 feet, which is enough range to accommodate them in many different places. The overall structure show mesmerizing harmony, the branches flow outward and resembles remarkably with clouds.

Japanese maples are easily available in different trunk forms, ranging from single to multiple. The former are the best match for formal official ambiance and the later add its own looks to the informal setting. Single trunked are known for their sober and mature looks for which you will find them in most of the official buildings while multi trunked are most of the times suit the home and casual environment. Undersized maples can become handy in the places where you are running out of space. If you want to purchase them, then factors like, the available space, the nature of building and the desired color scheme can greatly make the decision making process much less hectic.