Japanese Maple Tree Care

Japanese Maple Tree Care

Check out the plant care guide on different plants and types of plants for your home.

How do you take care of a Japanese maple tree?

Quick tips…

• Keep plants moist and in the shade until planting.
• Soil preparation with organic matter is important, especially if the soil is heavy clay.
• Mulch with 6 inches after planting to reduce the need for frequent watering and protection of their shallow roots.
• Keep pruning of newly planted trees to a minimum.

Do Japanese maple trees need sun or shade?

Dappled or Afternoon Shade – A mature Japanese Maple thrives in full sun everywhere but the southernmost portions of its hardiness range, but is also happy with a bit more shade. It does need some sun for best foliage color, but the amount you give it can vary greatly.

Why is my Japanese maple tree dying?

The reasons your Japanese maple is dying is most often because of fungal disease. Damp soil promotes the conditions for fungal diseases such as root rot which cause your Japanese maple to die. High wind, too much sun and not enough moisture in the soil can cause brown wilted foliage.

Where do Japanese maples grow best?

Japanese maples grow best in zones 5 – 8 but can be grown in containers in colder and warmer zones if you can provide appropriate care. In colder zones, allow plant to go fully dormant outside and then bring into an unheated garage or other sheltered, cool area.

Do Japanese maples do well in full sun?

While some can tolerate full sun, most Japanese maple varieties prefer dappled or afternoon shade, especially when young. Shade does have its limits though–they need some sun for best foliage color and to promote the more loose and open structure for which they are prized.

How much sun do Japanese maples need?

Sun and shade. Bloodgood Japanese maple trees prefer to grow in partial shade, or about four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. They can also grow in full sun, which is six hours or greater. However, shadier planting sites will lead to more robust and vivid foliage colors.

Can a Japanese maple get too much water?

Young plants are very prone to root rot and mildew due to excessive water. As long as the soil allows good drainage and is well aerated, overwatering Maples is usually not a concern.

Are coffee grounds good for Japanese maple?

Soil and water are the two most important factors for maintaining healthy Japanese maples. So maintain a humus-rich soil by applying coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are free at Starbucks. For a 4-foot-tall Japanese maple, I recommend applying 4 pounds of coffee grounds per tree per season.

Are Japanese maples easy to care for?

Japanese maple care is easy. Caring for Japanese maples in summer is mainly a matter of providing enough water to prevent stress. Water the tree deeply in the absence of rain. … Cut back on the amount of water in late summer to intensify the fall color.

How do you rejuvenate a Japanese maple tree?

Your Japanese maple may be dying from root rot, or “wet feet.” Amend the soil by digging in one part peat and one part sand to one part topsoil until the soil drains well when you pour water on it. Cultivate the soil with a garden spade to keep it loose and aerated.

How do you revive a dying Japanese maple tree?

The soil around a Japanese maple tree should remain cool and moist, but not wet. Cut back the diseased and dying limbs to live wood, a main branch or the trunk of the tree. Do not pile excess soil over the root base of the tree because the roots should remain naturally close to the soil surface.

What does an overwatered Japanese maple look like?

While Japanese Maples can definitely appreciate wet soil especially during its first few years of being planted, over watering is definitely a common cause of decline. If your leaves are turning brown/black at the tips, this could be a sign of over watering.

Why are Japanese maples so expensive?

These maple trees are costlier when compared to other maple trees in various countries. This is only because, These varieties are needed to be taken with utmost care and the Grafters have to spend their all energy, money, and years to produce a healthy and beautiful Japanese Maple tree.

What is best fertilizer for Japanese maple?

I recommend using a slow or controlled release type fertilizer. Commercially known as Polyon or Osmocote, these are the most common and both work very well on Japanese maples. We use both successfully in our Japanese maple production.

What is the reddest Japanese maple?

Acer Palmatum Osakazuki gives the reddest colour of all the Acers.

Can Japanese maple trees grow in pots?

Yes, they can. If you have a porch, a patio, or even a fire escape, you have what you need to start growing Japanese maples in containers. These graceful, slender maple trees (Acer palmatum) thrive in pots as long as you know how to plant them.

Are Japanese maples Hardy?

Japanese maples are fairly heat tolerant. References often list them as hardy up to Zone 7 or 8, but many gardeners successfully grow them in higher Zones. However, in hot, dry climates, the leaves will often scorch, therefore protection from the afternoon sun is important.

How do you protect a Japanese maple from the sun?

Protect Your Japanese Maples Protective Planting.

• When planting a Japanese Maple, choose a location that receives morning sun only and has some protection from strong winds.
• Save Moisture With Mulch. Mulching will help to retain moisture and cool root zones to protect these trees.
• Anti-Transpirant Sprays.

How do I make my Japanese maple red?

One factor to consider when you place your red Japanese maple is that they do need a little sunlight to maintain their brightest-red color. Too much shade minimizes the red shades. The leaves will not be as striking in the shade as they would be if the tree was planted in another area with more sunlight.

How long do Japanese maple trees live?

Japanese Acers can live to over 100 years, so it’s worth taking extra care in selecting and planting your tree as it will hopefully be a lifetime investment.

Do Japanese maple lose their leaves?

Do all Japanese maples lose their leaves? Yes! Japanese maples are deciduous trees. During October and November maples provide a lovely show of fall color. Then in late November, or December, the leaves drop.

How do I know if my Japanese maple needs water?

How do you know when a Japanese maple is dying?

Cut a small sliver of bark from the individual limb that appears dead with a knife, or from the trunk of the tree if the whole tree is in decline. If the wood under the bark is tinged green, the tissue is still alive and will likely recover. If the wood is tan or dry, that part of the tree is dead.

What does a dying maple tree look like?

Maples that are declining may have paler, smaller and few leaves than in previous years. Maple dieback includes symptoms such as dead twigs or branch tips and dead areas in the canopy. Leaves that change to fall colors before the end of summer are a sure indication of decline.

Is Epsom salt good for Japanese maples?

Epsom salts also appear to help Japanese maples struggling through the summer season. A few tablespoons of Epsom salts to a gallon of water used as a drench helps reduce lime buildup and lowers alkalinity and the salt levels of our soil. Whatever you do, be sure to buy the cheap stuff.

Should I mulch my Japanese maple?

Mulching is always a good idea for fall; it will help insulate the roots for winter and protect their early spring growth. Winter care of your Japanese Maples: Mulch with about 3″ of shredded hard bark, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk to allow air to circulate.

Should I cover my Japanese maple?

Your Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is a young tree and should be protected from frost. If animals are a problem, the Japanese maple should be wrapped in burlap each winter to protect if from the animals. However, these beautiful trees are sensitive to the cold, so protection is necessary.

Can Japanese maple grow indoors?

Although Japanese maples trees can be large, they can be grown indoors in containers and often used used in the art of bonsai. Growing Japanese maples indoors means solving the problem of their natural size while addressing their seasonal requirements.

What Japanese maples are weeping?

The scientific name of Japanese weeping maples is Acer palmatum var. dissectum, of which there are several cultivars. The weeping variety is both delicate and supple, bearing the lacy leaves on branches that bend gracefully toward the ground.

When should a Japanese maple be pruned?

When to Prune Japanese Maple Trees For Japanese maples, it is recommended to do structural pruning in the winter and wait until late spring, after the leaves come out, for fine pruning. Summer can also be a good time for removing larger branches and for removing dead, damaged, or diseased wood.

How do I keep my Japanese maple healthy?

Keep Japanese Maple Healthy in Summer Keep them moist – don’t forget to keep the soil damp, with mulch and regular watering. Give them afternoon shade – when planting your tree, arrange for afternoon shade in summer. Choose a suitable variety – some forms resist burning better than others.

What kills a Japanese maple tree?

The most common Japanese maple diseases are caused by fungal infection. Canker can attack through bark damage. Sap oozes from the canker in the bark. A mild case of canker will resolve itself, but heavy infection will kill the tree.

Why does my maple tree have dead branches?

The dying branches could be caused by a girdling root. Work with an arborist to use an air spade to remove the soil around the base of the tree to look for a girdling root. Another potential cause of dying branches: phytophthora root rot. This widespread soil pathogen causes problems among landscape plants.

Why does my Japanese maple have no leaves?

Water stress can also be a reason for leaves not growing on Japanese maples. Remember that these trees need water not just in summer, but in dry springs and falls as well. Girdled roots can cause leafless Japanese maples. Your tree’s best chance is for you to cut some of the roots, then be sure it gets enough water.

How do you save a maple tree from dying?

How to Save a Dying Maple Tree

• Identify the Problem. After ascertaining that the tree is dying, it is now time to do a pre-autopsy and identify the cause.
• Change Your Tree Watering Habits. Adjusting your tree watering schedules can save your tree.
• Control Your Fertilizer Usage.
• Pruning.
• Mulching.
• Control Pests and Diseases.

Is my maple tree dead?

Foliage on Maple Tree Branches Dying Foliage is often one of the first indicators that something is wrong with a maple. Anytime the foliage becomes distorted, wilted or discolored during a growing season, or during any season if the maple is evergreen, those are signs the maple is unhealthy.

How can you tell if a tree is getting enough water?

Curling or Wilted Leaves Inspect the leaves on your trees. If you notice any wilting, curling, or turning brown near the tips and edges, chances are your tree is in need of additional water.

How do you fix an overwatered tree?

If you see that a tree is overwatered, just stop watering it temporarily. Give it about a week or so, depending on the severity of the accumulated water, and simply let it dry out. Before you water it again, do the screwdriver test, and only water the tree where it needs it.

Why is my Japanese maple tree leaves turning brown?

Japanese maple trees are often understory trees in their native habitats. Over-exposure to sun can result in brown leaves, a phenomenon also known as “leaf scorch.”1 A hot summer can leave even established specimens that are too exposed to sun with brown leaves, especially if other debilitating factors are present.

What does a Japanese maple tree symbolize?

1 Peace and Serenity Associated with peace and serenity of the world’s elements, Japanese maple trees represent balance and practicality and are called “kito” in the Japanese language, which means “calm,” “rest” or “at peace.”

What is the difference between a red maple and a Japanese maple?

The species gets its name from its flower color, though many red maples have reddish seeds and red fall foliage as well. Upright Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) make excellent ornamental trees (not shade trees) and many have red or purple foliage.

Can I sell my Japanese maple?

You can buy Japanese Red Maple seedlings and resell them. Many of our Backyard Growers buy them and pot them up and sell them at their plant sales for $5.97. However, inside The Backyard Growers Business Center, members sell Japanese maple seedlings all the time for $2.25-$2.75 each.

Why is my Japanese maple green?

The most common deficiency in Japanese maples is manganese. Some Japanese maple cultivars that normally feature red leaves can lighten and turn green if they do not receive adequate sunlight. A Japanese maple suffering from a nutrient deficiency will typically have yellow or yellow-green leaves with darker veins.

When should I fertilize my Japanese maple?

Fertilizer. Japanese maples should only be fertilized after they’re a year old, or during the second growing season. The best time to fertilize is late winter or early spring. Japanese maples are naturally slow-growing trees, so stimulating rapid growth with a high-nitrogen fertilizer should be avoided.

Is cow manure good for Japanese maples?

Keep in mind, Millorganite is good for your ornamental plants but not your vegetable garden because it’s made from sewage sludge. When installing new plants, especially Japanese maples, mix some rotted (bagged) cow manure with the soil as you back fill around the plants.

Which is the most beautiful Japanese maple?

Aconitifolium. One of the most beautiful Japanese maples, ‘Aconitifolium’ offers deeply cut, fern-like green foliage that turns shades of red, orange, and yellow in fall. This tree, also called ‘Maiku Jaku’, changes up the beautiful texture you’ve come to expect from most Japanese maples.

What is the prettiest maple tree?

Sugar Maple Most important of all, the Sugar Maple has amazing color. In the spring and summer, the leaves are a shade of rich green that develop shades of gold, orange and red during fall. This tree has three different traffic-stopping colors every spring, causing it to stand out as the prettiest tree on the block.

What Japanese maple stays red all year?

Red Dragon is the answer when you have a sunny location and need a tree that will not scorch. This variety is the most sun-tolerant form available and will stay fresh and happy in sunshine all day long. The leaves emerge cherry-pink in spring, turn red for the summer and become crimson in fall – a glory all year round.