The first mentions of Japanese maples appeared at the beginning of the 17th century. At this time in Japan, maples were grown only in monastery gardens and parks of the nobility.

Gardeners have been searching the mountains for years and collecting varieties of this tree. About 250 varieties of Japanese maple have been described.

Only in the middle of the 19th century. the plant came to Europe, to Great Britain. At the beginning of the twentieth century. it was almost forgotten; during the Second World War, many valuable varieties disappeared without a trace.

Only in the 60s of the last century maples came back into fashion and resumed their victorious march from Japan to Europe and America, and scientists with great enthusiasm began to develop new varieties.

Botanical portrait

Japanese maple, or palmate ( Acer palmatum) is a perennial, slow-growing deciduous shrub or tree.

Today there are more than 150 species.

The size of a tree or bush depends on the type and variety of plant and reaches 2-10 m in height.

The leaves are small, carved. The color of the leaves comes in all shades of green, burgundy, red, yellow-orange and even pink.

The better the light, the more intense the shade of the leaves. The shape of the leaves resembles a fan or palm leaves in a smaller form.

Japanese maple flowers are small. After flowering, small winged fruits are formed on the plants.

Choosing a place to plant Japanese maple

It is better to buy maple in containers and plant it in the ground along with a lump of earth to preserve the thin and brittle roots of the plant.

Planting a container plant can be done at any time from early spring to late autumn.

It is very important to choose the right place for the maple on the site: it needs a well-lit area, but protected from midday rays (perhaps in the shade of a taller tree), where there would be enough space for a wide umbrella crown; it is also important that at any time of the year it can was to admire the changing appearance of this beautiful tree.

It should also be taken into account that maple does not like strong winds or cold drafts.

Protection can be a solid fence or conifers, planted around the perimeter of the garden. They will help avoid the risk of damage to tender young maple leaves during late spring frosts.

Our advice:

Most garden soils are quite suitable for Japanese maples. The only exceptions are highly alkaline soils that are not sufficiently permeable to water. Moreover, areas with stagnant water or drying out in extreme heat are not suitable.

Landing Features

• To plant a maple, dig a hole twice as deep and wider than the earthen ball in the container.
• The container with the seedling is lowered into a container of water for 10-15 minutes.
• Several shovels of fertilized soil are poured into the hole, the seedling with a lump is removed from the container and placed in the center of the hole.
• Fill the hole to the top with the remains of the prepared soil and carefully, so as not to damage the fragile roots, crush it around the trunk, leaving no voids.
• The planting depth should be the same as in the container. After this, the plant is watered abundantly.

Is it necessary to cover the maple tree for the winter?

Frost resistance of Japanese maples is not the highest, but they tolerate the climate of Ukraine well. You just need to follow certain rules.

If the winter is very snowy, it is necessary to periodically carefully shake off heavy wet snow from thin maple branches so that they do not break.

At a young age, before the trunk is completely lignified, the maple is covered with agro-fabric for the winter. Before sheltering for the winter, you need to make sure that the soil around the trunk is sufficiently moist.

Necessary care

Watering

The root system of the palmate maple is superficial, so it needs watering.

The maple reacts to a lack of moisture, its excess, very hot direct rays of the sun or too strong a dry wind with dried tips of the leaves, and to more severe stress - by completely dropping the leaves. This reaction does not mean that the plant will die.

It is important to correctly and gradually remove it from this state (provide regular watering without stagnant water, shade the crown).

Our advice:

Under no circumstances should you add fertilizer to the soil during periods of stress - this can only worsen the situation. If you give your pet enough attention, the maple will quickly recover and, possibly, grow new leaves in the same year.

Mulching

In addition to watering, mulching with bark is required, which protects the roots from drying out and does not allow weeds to grow.

Trimming Features

Slow-growing Japanese maples practically do not need pruning, but it is used as a way of maintaining and shaping the crown. For example, if it is necessary to limit the growth of a plant, thin out a thickened crown or emphasize exquisite shape tree (bush).

Periodic thinning pruning promotes optimal lighting and ventilation of the crown, helps prevent the maple from being damaged by fungal diseases and maintains its beautiful appearance.

As the plant ages, it needs rejuvenating pruning, in which old and damaged branches are removed. When doing this, you must follow some simple rules:

• Pruning of large branches is done during the dormant period. Small branches are pruned after the leaves have fully blossomed and before sap flow begins for the next growth;
• It is better to trim branches when they are not too large;
• large branches must be cut flush with the bark growths around the branch. Small branches are cut off above a pair of buds;
• The cut areas are not treated with anything; they should dry naturally.

How to properly fertilize Japanese maple?

In order for maple plants to develop normally, they need fertilizing and it must be done correctly.

Our advice:

When planting Japanese maple, peat and compost are added to the soil; mineral fertilizers are not applied..

Maples planted in spring should be fertilized 4-5 weeks after planting the tree. And those planted throughout growing season Fertilize 2-3 weeks after planting the tree in open ground.

If Japanese maple is planted in the fall, fertilizers are applied only in the spring of the following year.

Experienced gardeners know that it is better to feed the Japanese maple several times, but in small doses, so as not to damage the root system. A last feeding carried out no later than the second ten days of July so that the tree has time to prepare for winter.

In spring, the plant awakens from winter hibernation and intensive growth it needs a sufficient amount of nitrogen, in summer and autumn - potassium, which helps to better withstand critical weather conditions (summer drought and winter frosts).

Ksenia and Marjan SHWED
© Ogorodnik magazine
Photo: depositphotos.com
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: pixabay.com

Maples are not only one of the most picturesque, but also the most variable trees. Despite the fact that these filigree beauties are found almost all over the globe, the most famous of the maples today remain the species that symbolize the classic flora of the Land of the Rising Sun. They are united not only by their natural habitat, but also by the unique play of colors, transparency of silhouettes and mesmerizing watercolors.

Japanese maples and their best varieties

Japanese maples are species of maples united by origin: they all come from the alluring and mysterious Land of the Rising Sun. Endemics and theirs cultivars This group is very popular and is considered the most sought-after representatives of the genus, distinguished by its extraordinary picturesque silhouette and the beauty of carved foliage. These include:

Actually Japanese maple(Acer japonicum), which, due to its low frost resistance, can only be grown in the south or as a tub - very beautiful plant with deeply dissected graceful leaves and complex colors from green to cherry and burgundy ( decorative forms– large- and small-leaved, golden, aconite-leaved);

Became legendary Fan maple(Acer palmatum) and its many varieties;

More rare, but no less beautiful Shirasawa Maple(Acer shirasawanum) up to only one and a half meters high, whose leaves with a small cross-section are distinguished by a larger plate width (classic varieties are colored yellow and orange, the ‘Aureum’ form has an original border along the edge of the leaves).

Almost all maples from Japan presented in the assortment of gardening centers are varietal plants, representing the assortment of fan maples and their hybrid and selective forms. The basic species of the other two eastern plants are much less common and, as a rule, are significantly inferior to the cultivated forms of fan maple in the ability to choose different colors and forms of cultivation. You can easily understand the names of individual varieties only if you speak Japanese: each name of a fan maple variety indicates a key feature of the plant, which is sometimes reflected in the English decoding in the catalogs of large companies.

TO the best varieties Japanese maples rightfully include such fan maples as:

Lacey dark red 'Bloodgood' with delightful inky-black foliage and vibrant fruit, capable of displaying unusual dark coloration even in the shade;
- bright scarlet maple “Beni Kava” with light leaves and a very bright scarlet shade of the bark;
- the “Orangeola” variety, which also has a beautiful spring outfit of almost yellow young foliage;
- variety “Katsura” with reddish young leaves and bright “curly” green summer decoration, growing well in tubs;
- variety with scarlet autumn foliage “Osakazuki”;
- layered variety "Nicholsonii" from 2 to 3 meters high with an autumn crown showing all shades of brick red;
- multi-stemmed and very picturesque maples with powerful curved branches “Aconitifolium” with a flaming dark red outfit, decorated with rare flashes of kraplak and brick;
- three to four-meter “Dissectum” with elongated conifer-like leaves and a bright orange-yellow color with rare splashes of other tones;
- a two-meter tall fan maple of the “Dissectum Garnet” variety with a very wide spreading crown, burgundy main and orange autumn color;
- a compact and denser squat one and a half meter variety “Mikawa yatsubusa” with thin needle-shaped leaf lobes and an outfit that transforms from acrylic green to orange-scarlet;
- a little more than a meter long spreading maple “Shino Buga Oka” with very deeply dissected leaves and a color change from bright green to yellow-orange.

Decorative advantages of Japanese maple species

Associations with created the best masters watercolor landscapes arise in everyone who admires the autumn decoration of a maple tree. It is during the final deciduous season for all that maples turn into real dominants in any design: even the abundance of bright crowns of classic shrubs and trees in the neighborhood cannot overshadow the beauty of these unique plants. It was no coincidence that maples were called the main symbol autumn garden. These not so gigantic trees really seem to have absorbed all the best that they can offer to an admiring viewer. autumn nature. On cloudy and bad days they illuminate entire compositions around them, and on sunny days they glow from within and shimmer joyfully.

The decorative quality of maples lies in the amazing beauty of the details with the overall nobility and sophistication of silhouettes and shapes. After all, the contours of the maple, the shape of its lush crown and the graceful bends of the branches are no less filigree than the carved leaves. The lines of this plant are an impeccable example of picturesqueness, built on the harmony of naturalness and effectiveness. Japanese maples have a tiered or translucent crown, lush and lacy and almost weightless at the same time. And all the beauty of the mass of foliage only emphasizes the decorative nature of each individual leaf, divided into graceful pointed lobes.

The color palette only crowns, emphasizes and extols the beauty of the plants themselves, revealing their nobility and elegance. Incredible and rare tones of yellow, orange, red in autumn and in young leaves, and light shades of green or rich dark red in summer in maples are bright, picturesque and pure. Each maple, even representatives of the same variety, has a special and inimitable color. It directly depends on the weather conditions in each year, on the conditions of the place of growth and care. Even in seemingly similar neighboring gardens, two identical maples can turn different shades! It will take time for maples to show all their eccentricity: young plants rarely show all their coloristic talents and only in adulthood acquire relative constancy.

Wherein bright shades, with which nature painted maple leaves as if by a magic brush, are distinguished not only by their catchiness, but also by the effect of internal glow: the transparency of the crowns themselves makes each shade of the almost acrylic “maple” palette completely unique. As if the maples in the garden, having absorbed the sunlight, have a truly magical effect: attracting admiring glances, they invariably become the center of everyone's attention.

Use in garden design and selection of partners

Japanese maples, especially rare varieties, are quite expensive and valuable plants; they always and everywhere play the role of the main accents and important points of attraction. They are placed only in such a way as to maximize the beauty of the plant itself. Japanese maples are always planted in the best locations in the garden, near the most advantageous and structurally important objects. Most often they can be found near a terrace or pond, in front gardens, rock gardens, rock gardens and rock gardens, near a large recreation area or in a landscape group that enlivens large areas of lawns. Such maples are not afraid of solo parties or the proximity of other plants.

Finding companions for maples is not an easy task. Such stars of any landscape need worthy accompaniment - bright, but still less flashy than the woody ones themselves, corresponding to the “level” of maples in texture, palette, and luxury of details.

One of the typical landscapes of the Land of the Rising Sun is a quiet and secluded corner for relaxation under the shade of a maple tree, the beauty of which is “supported” by pillows blooming chrysanthemums. A laconic, discreet, but surprisingly picturesque duo today remains an ideal example of the selection of classic companions for the design of any garden. Also looking very good under Japanese maples is a rootstock made from epimedium or hakonechloa, ferns, Volzhanka, shady sedge and rhododendrons (especially deciduous varieties, which also explode in the fall with bright fireworks of leaf transformation). You can always limit yourself to a minimalist design: decorative stone chips in the tree trunk area and balancing the crown with one or two plants or large boulders around the perimeter. Of the large – equal – partners, maples are best combined with representatives of the conifer family.

Key features of cultivation and care

The undoubted advantage of maples native to Japan is their ability to grow even in modest conditions. They will take root without much difficulty on meager and insufficient quality soils provided that the shortage nutrients will be replenished with at least rare fertilizing with mineral mixtures with prolonged effects. They carry out such feeding in early spring, as an adaptation and growth-enhancing measure. If maples are grown in a tub, the soil should be rich in organic matter and of very high quality. It is no coincidence that Japanese maples are often used to decorate ponds: they grow well in moist, but not soggy soils and fresh garden soils.

All Japanese maples are able to adapt to any lighting without losing color: dark red ones - including shade, and the rest - within partial shade and diffuse bright light. All maples of Japanese origin are not afraid of drafts.

Picturesque plants have become famous precisely for their natural silhouettes, so pruning will not burden the care of the maples growing on the site. Only in the first four years of cultivation in the spring can you slightly adjust the crown, but otherwise pruning comes down to breaking out dry branches at a time when the maple is already dormant.

During the dry season, it is better to water Japanese maples additionally. It is enough to carry out maintenance procedures once a month, using about 15 liters of water per plant. For tub maples, maintain constant light moisture in the substrate. Another mandatory component of care is mulching. trunk circle any available materials (layer – from 3 to 5 cm).

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The Land of the Rising Sun gave the world Japanese maples, incredible in their diversity and beauty. Once you see them, you will certainly want to complement the garden picture with a watercolor touch of exquisite oriental beauty. Moreover, planting and caring for maple will not cause much trouble.

Types and varieties

The genus of maples today has more than a hundred species and thousands of varieties. The category of Japanese representatives includes 2 deciduous species:

Attention! Japanese maples are found in natural conditions on the territory of the Sakhalin region, and due to their scarcity they are listed in the Red Book.

The most attractive varieties for the garden are:

• A. japonicum aconitifolium (monkshood) is a tree-like shrub that is decorated with large, deeply dissected leaves in fiery orange, burgundy and yellow shades;

A. japonicum aconitifolium

• A. japonicum vitifolium (grape-leaved) - characterized by slow growth and picturesque rounded fan-shaped foliage, turning bright crimson in autumn;

A. japonicum vitifolium

• A. palmatum sangokaku (maple with coral bark) - in addition to decorative deeply cut leaves with a pink border, it surprises with its spectacular coral-red bark;

A. palmatum sangokaku

• A. palmatum Garnet is a small graceful tree with lacy leaves and low hanging branches. The thin-lobed leaves vary in hue from deep red to dark purple, transitioning to deep crimson;

A. palmatum Garnet

• A. palmatum Katsura is a compact variety that produces purple-red flowers in early spring. Leaves in spring period yellowish with a richer brick edging. At the height of summer, the maple changes color to an unremarkable green, and by autumn it turns orange;

A. palmatum Katsura

• A. palmatum Butterfly - sports 5-lobed silver-green foliage that sometimes curls flirtatiously. In spring you can notice pinkish streaks, and in autumn period Instead of a silvery hue, rich purple takes the place.

A. palmatum Butterfly

Growing in open ground

In order for a truly spectacular, handsome maple tree to grow on your site, you need to choose the right seedling at the garden center. It is best if the young plant is in a container with a protected root system. In addition, the chances of the seedling to take root in a new place will increase, because it will be planted together with the “native” soil. The best time The seasons for planting trees are spring and autumn.

The soil in the area where the young maple will be planted must be fertile, without stagnant water. If you are not sure whether there is stagnation of water, then it is better to use drainage when planting.

Advice. In order for all the beauty of the foliage to fully manifest itself, it is better to plant Japanese maple in a sunny place.

When growing, it is necessary to take into account the fact that maple can withstand frosts down to - 20°C. At lower temperatures, the tree will need shelter. In this case, you should choose low-growing maple varieties.

In spring and autumn, the plant needs mulching. In the spring, before this procedure, you should apply a slow-release fertilizer to the tree trunk. The next one will be a layer of peat, and then the mulch itself (chips or bark). Mulching helps retain moisture and protect roots. young plant from freezing.

Attention! Maples do not tolerate fast-acting strong fertilizers.

Pests and diseases

At proper care Japanese maples do not get sick and are not afraid of pests. But if the tree is weakened, then the following problems are possible:

1. Infection with gall aphids. Visually, you can notice red swellings on the leaves. Moreover, the aphid colony itself is located on the underside of the leaf. The affected areas must be removed, and to combat it, use one of the specific drugs or use folk recipes(soap solution, for example).
2. Maple weevil. This pest prefers Norway maple, but will not disdain Japanese maple. Bugs gnaw leaves and apical shoots, which significantly reduces the decorative value of the plant.
3. Whitefly. Damages young shoots and leaves. The tree not only loses its attractiveness due to the loss of leaf mass and drying out of the shoots, but also generally slows down its growth.
4. Fungal diseases. The most common of this group of diseases occurs powdery mildew. The mycelium of the fungus disrupts the physiological processes of the plant, which leads to drying and falling of the leaves. In general, the culture’s resistance to unfavorable conditions decreases environment. But do not despair - with the right treatment methods, Japanese exotic quickly recovers.

By giving preference to Japanese maple to decorate your site, you will not go wrong in your choice. On gloomy autumn days spectacular plant will delight you and your guests with a picturesque outfit.

Japanese maples are very attractive trees and shrubs. Unlike other deciduous crops, which winter period look quite dull, Japanese maple looks brilliant even in the cold season. Beautiful red branches are on the plant, even if the maple has lost its leaves. The tree looks like some kind of flu or umbrella.

general description

Of course, the very peak of the beauty of trees occurs when leaves of the most varied colors bloom on them: green, red, golden. Already from the name it is clear that Japanese red maples came to us from Japan. There are modern garden centers in Korea that offer about a hundred forms and varieties of Japanese trees. Some of them are grown in Russia. These trees can vary in size.

Residents of Russia are accustomed to seeing Norway maple, which is a typical representative of perennials growing in European latitudes.

Japanese view slightly different from the usual holly. This shrub has gained great popularity among gardeners due to its attractive appearance their leaves. Due to its bright crown, the maple blends well into any garden park area, making it more picturesque at absolutely any time of the year, even in winter.

Despite the fact that the bush is quite compact, it leaves are large, palmate at the edges. What makes it more attractive is the bark, which is painted in a pleasant gray shade, the surface of the bark is smooth, there are no cracks. In April, the plants bloom, forming bright purple inflorescences on the branches.

Japanese red maple is listed in the Red Book of Russia, but it can still be found in the Sakhalin region.

Common types and varieties

When talking about Japanese maple trees, we most often think of three main types.

These varieties include:

• Shirasawa maple (Shirasawa).
• Japanese maple.
• Fan maple atropurpureum.

Planting and caring for these species are quite simple, even when grown in the Russian climate.

Fan Japanese look got its name due to the unusual structure of the leaves, so this variety can become the main highlight of any square or park. Sheet plates presented in the form of an open palm or fan. In June the leaves turn bright red. Plants grow up to 2 m in height. This species has many different varieties, among which the most popular are:

• Garnet.
• Aconitifolium.
• Bloodgood.
• Nicholsoni.
• Orange Dream.

By the way, the most expensive variety is Bloodgood. It is prized for its blueberry-colored leaves. The price of one tree starts from $2,000.

Unlike other species, the Shirasawa maple boasts a variety of color scheme, ranging from yellow to burgundy. This tree can grow up to 15 m in height, while the diameter of the trunk in an adult specimen reaches 60 cm. The most popular variety is Dissectum Nigrum, which has black and red foliage that harmonizes perfectly with bright green lawns. This variety is often used in landscape design.

Planting and care

Japanese maple trees in natural environment habitats in their homeland, they usually grow in the undergrowth; accordingly, for normal life and normal growth of plants, appropriate conditions must be created.

The soil must be sufficiently noble and sufficiently fertilized. In no case do Japanese maples like stagnant water. Therefore, in the garden where it grows, it is necessary to provide drainage, because stagnant water can harm the root system.

The variegated color of maple leaves indicates that they love sunny places , so when landing you need to take this fact into account. In our conditions, Japanese maple trees suffer most from late spring frosts. Even when the leaves bloomed, but unexpectedly there was frost, Japanese guest may get hurt.

Speaking about whether it is possible to grow Japanese crops in our conditions with fairly severe winters, it is worth noting that some varieties can withstand temperatures down to minus 20 degrees. If there is an assumption that the temperature will drop lower in winter, then you need to try to make a shelter for the tree. This is not difficult, because if a low variety is grown, 2-3 meters high, then a frame is made, and a special insulating fabric is stretched over it.

Very important point in caring for Japanese crops is timely mulching. Mulch is usually applied twice in the spring and fall before the onset of winter. Spring mulching has its own characteristics. The fact is that before laying mulch in the tree trunk circle, you first need to apply some slow-acting fertilizer. Then cover it all with a layer of peat and cover it with a layer of any mulch on top.

It is necessary to fertilize the tree in the spring once a month. To do this, the fertilizer mixture is laid out on the surface of the tree trunk circle, and a layer of 5 cm of compost is poured on top. The last time fertilizer is applied is in early July.

Do not use fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers strong concentration. The fact is that the Japanese maple does not like this.

Trees grown under normal conditions practically do not get sick and are not affected by pests.

Selection of seedlings

Since Japanese maple seedlings are very expensive, their selection must be taken responsibly and carefully. First of all, you need to decide on the variety Japanese plant. If you have a large area for growing a tree, you can choose large varieties. If the territory is limited, then it is recommended to select decorative dwarf maple for growing.

Seedling best purchased in a container, since in this case planting and caring for Japanese red maple will be much easier and safer. In addition, the likelihood that the seedling will take root better increases, since it will grow in its native soil, and root system will not be harmed during disembarkation. The ideal age of a seedling for planting in open ground is up to 1 year. You need to purchase a young tree from a specialized store. Externally, the maple should look fresh and healthy, there should be no dull or withered leaves or any damage.

Need for pruning

In principle, pruning of Japanese maples is not done. They themselves form a very beautiful crown. But if you suddenly want to correct this shape somewhere, then you can trim the tree a little. Japanese trees are pruned mainly in early spring, before the sap begins to flow, before the leaves begin to bloom.

Reproduction methods

Propagating a plant is not so difficult on your own.

Mostly use 2 methods of propagating maples:

When planning to grow maple, you need to take into account the fact that it likes to grow in well-lit areas, quite demanding on soil composition: prefers rich soil mixtures with a good nutrient medium, does not tolerate sandy and rocky soils, or too dense soils.

Tree needs careful and regular hydration. But watering should be moderate so that moisture does not stagnate in the soil. You also need a good drainage layer. Expanded clay, crushed stone or broken brick are suitable for this.

Application in landscape design

Despite the fact that Japanese maple is a foreign plant and quite expensive, it is widely used in landscape design. In recent years, gardeners have acquired a new fashion trend, which consists of creating small Japanese gardens.

The point is to plant along the alley Japanese varieties tree, thus arranging a gradation of shades, ranging from yellow to blueberry. Such gardens can be called a real paradise for perfectionists and aesthetics.

This tree will look quite unusual with ornamental plants, as well as near artificial ponds and natural stones. Low growing varieties gardeners often grow in containers as if it were so easy indoor plant. In the warm season, such varieties can be taken out onto the terrace, thus making it more attractive and bright.

In regions where there is a cold climate, Japanese trees it is customary to plant in tubs, which in winter are brought into a room that is not too hot. Growing in tubs is an advantage, as it allows you to move the plants if necessary, protecting them from rain, sun, hail or wind.

Since many varieties are low-growing, in Japan it is customary to install them on a special stand so that all the attractiveness of the shrub is better visible.

The peak of maple decorativeness occurs in the autumn. Bright leaves will go well with autumn flowers: asters, oaks, chrysanthemums. As neighbors for a foreign guest, you can plant boxwood, juniper and various ornamental coniferous shrubs.

if you love unusual trees and want to see them in your garden, consider Japanese red maple as one of the options. The high decorative value of this crop is undeniable, especially in autumn, when the carved leaves acquire a fiery red color. Compact trees are grown like tapeworms, because their crown looks truly luxurious. Japanese red maple can decorate any corner of the garden, terrace, or greenhouse, because these trees, due to their compact size, can be grown in large portable tubs. We invite you to get acquainted with this culture right now. We will give you a story about caring for red maple and planting it in our conditions.

Features of Japanese maple

If you decide to grow Japanese maple in your garden, you should know what some of the features of this culture are. Firstly, the tree, growing in natural conditions in Japan and Korea, loves warmth. In winter, it can withstand temperatures of at least 20 degrees below zero. This means that growing difficulties may arise if you live in middle lane, where in winter the thermometer sometimes drops below -25-28 degrees. In this regard, it is worth thinking about how exactly you will grow Japanese maple - in a tub, which can be moved to a cool room for the winter, or in the garden, where you will have to take care of covering the tree for the winter?

The second requirement for successful cultivation crops are fertile soil. If the soil on your site is poor, you will have to artificially enrich it both before planting and later. Japanese red maple needs an abundance of nutrients. Perhaps these are two requirements that need to be taken into account if you want to plant this luxurious tree. We will consider the remaining features of planting and care further.

This is a red maple (photo)

Planting red maple

So where do you start when planting a Japanese red maple? Of course, with the purchase of a seedling. It is best to purchase it from nurseries. It is advisable that the seedling be in a container with soil, then its roots will not be damaged during transportation and transplantation.

Find a spot on your property that gets the most sunlight. It is desirable that it be protected from the wind as much as possible, and that no other trees or shrubs grow nearby, within a radius of 2-3 meters.

As already mentioned, you need to prepare suitable soil for planting Japanese maple. To do this, dig a hole, the size of which in all respects is twice the size of the root system of the purchased seedling. The soil must be breathable, nutritious, slightly acidic or neutral. Thoroughly mix the soil from the hole with compost and peat, and if necessary, if it is clayey, add sand. Pour a third of the soil mixture into the hole.

Carefully remove the seedling along with a lump of earth from the container and place it in the hole. “Popular about health” draws attention to the fact that you should not push a young maple into the ground more than necessary. Place the seedling at the same level at which it grew in the container. Fill it with soil mixture, trying to fill all the voids. Use your hands to compact the soil well, forming a circle around the trunk. Water it, maybe even in two stages, so that the substrate sinks a little along with the water. Immediately mulch the soil surface with peat. Now it will be useful for readers to learn about the features of caring for Japanese red maple.

More photos of red maple

How to Care for Japanese Red Maple?

This culture does not require increased attention. The tree needs watering in dry times, and it is advisable to spray young seedlings warm water, but not at noon, but better in the evening, when the sun is not so aggressive. Fertilizing is very important for Japanese red maple. In the spring, when the snow has completely melted and the soil has warmed up a little, the tree trunk circle is sprinkled with granulated mineral fertilizers, after which they water and loosen the soil near the tree trunk.

Mulching with peat and humus will not only help protect the roots from unfavorable conditions, but will also become a long-acting recharge. In the middle zone, trees, especially young ones, need to be protected from the winter cold. You can use, for example, garden fleece, which has a soft structure and retains heat well. In areas where the frosts in winter are not so severe, down to -18 degrees, the tree does not need shelter, but snowfall can pose a threat to the crown. It is advisable to clear snow build-ups from branches after heavy snow falls.

The most dangerous are thaws with rain, alternating with frosts. In such conditions, the crown becomes overgrown with ice, which means there is a risk that the branches will not withstand the load and will break. This crop does not need pruning, unless it makes sense to cut off shoots that have suffered from frost in winter. The formation of the crown of the Japanese red maple occurs naturally, and over time the tree acquires a unique and refined silhouette.

As you can see, there is nothing special or complicated about caring for and planting Japanese maple. The main thing is to provide it with a nutritious environment and protect it from the cold in winter. If you grow this tree in a tub, then simply move it to a cool room for the winter. The rest of the gardener’s actions are standard - watering, loosening the tree trunk, mulching the soil and fertilizing in spring and autumn.