![]() Summer pruning stimulates less plant growth than winter pruning, so you can get away with cutting back a little more and the tree will stay thinned out for longer. PRUNE in winter or summer, removing branches that spoil the shape of the tree and any that are diseased or crossing. Check that there is sufficient moisture after rain, as shallow falls may evaporate quickly. They don’t need a lot of water but do need it in consistent amounts. MULCH with 70mm of well-rotted organic mulch, keeping it at least 100mm clear of the trunk.ĬARE for Japanese maples by watering regularly for the first three years. Remove the plant from its pot and gently tease out any circling roots, then position it in the hole and backfill with enriched soil. Mix rich compost into the dug-out soil and fill the base of the hole. PLANT by digging a hole four times the width of the rootball and a little deeper. ![]() They like moisture in their shallow root run, so rich, friable, free-draining soil is best but any that isn’t heavy clay or very alkaline will do. Morning sun or dappled sunlight are the best options. In all but the coolest areas they do better in semi-shade. Position maples in a protected spot, away from strong winds. Some have lollipop-like, straight forms, while others fall in rippling waves that would look at home in a Japanese watercolour. Most commonly grown as a feature tree, they also take on starring roles in rockeries and in large pots. The tree will generally grow only as tall as the understock, usually one or two metres. TIP: Small-leafed Japanese maples are particularly popular as bonsai plants.Ī popular type of dwarf maple is formed by grafting a fine-leafed Japanese maple with a weeping habit onto an upright understock. These plants need protection from wind and hot sun, as they scorch easily. Dissectum varieties have finely cut leaves that can be barely thicker than the skeleton of the leaf veins. These types prefer afternoon shade as their leaves discolour with too much sun or too much shade. Atropurpureum means purple or red leaves and is used as a generic name as well as a particular cultivar. The names of maples give a clue about the foliage. They range from the broad classic maple form to fine or cut leaves, which are heavily lobed, to filigree or dissected lace-like foliage, and even variegated. The leaves have five, seven or nine lobes and are usually from 40 to 120mm long. Japanese maples must go dormant over winter, so they have a hard time surviving in climates where it doesn’t get cold enough. The best seasonal colour is shown in climates with clearly defined seasons. Most grow to about four metres, though under ideal conditions some can reach 10m high.Īutumn colour can be red, green, yellow or purple in a variety of leaf shapes and sizes. They are happy in full to part sun, as long as they have protection from harsh conditions. Treasured for their dazzling autumn foliage display, they have been cultivated in Japan for centuries and in the West since the 1800s.ĭeciduous small trees or large shrubs, Japanese maples are all slow-growing plants. As the name suggests, these maples are native to Japan, growing as understorey trees in forests and the edges of woodlands. ![]()
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