Japanese Maples MenuTypes, color, pruning and more
‘ Fireglow ’ among Funka , conifers , and blank - blossom foxgloves . Photo by : Richard Bloom .
For healthy , long-lived , long - endure Nipponese maples , experts apprise mitigation in all maintenance . As Matt Nichols ofMrMaple.comsays , “ The routine one matter mass do wrong with Japanese maples is they over - be intimate them . ” So every time you get the impulse to bestow copious tending on your maple , consider these maple mantras .
Deliver drainage.
Nipponese maple dead must have it . So use loose soil . Or , if you live in an area with heavy clay , engraft the etymon ball somewhat elevated . In general , engraft them slightly leaven , and absolutely obviate found them bass .
Watch the water.
extravagant water system can be a death knell for maple . pee well at planting meter and equally thereafter . Do not stress maple by allowing the rootzone to be sear or waterlogged .
Forego fertilizer.
Low nitrogen plant food in spring is ok ( N number 15 or lower ) , but stop after May or you will impede good surrender color and wintertime huskiness .
Beware the weed eater.
Tim Nichols ( also ofMrMaple.com ) calls this a common Nipponese maple killer , 2nd only to overwatering . On launch trees , carefully remove turfgrass and replace with about an in of compost bark mulch ( obviate the trunk ) or small-scale groundcover plants .
Prune passively.
Nipponese maples do not need regular or aggressive pruning , so whether or not you prune depends on your aesthetic goal . For an airy look , thin out branches over time ; for a tree canopy shape , remove a few low-down branch . To reduce the tree ’s size , prune in belated July ; to generate emergence and increase size , prune in saltation . But Nipponese maple will produce their own naturally beautiful class with no pruning at all .
This fillip subject matter accompany “ Maples for All Seasons”-an article all about the tree that presents many option in size , mannequin , foliage shape and color — in the Autumn 2016 issuing of Garden Design magazine .
Nipponese Maples for Fall ColorMaple Garden in Ohio
