Japanese maple planting guidelines

PLANTING GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR JAPANESE MAPLES

JAPANESE MAPLES DO NOT REQUIRE A LOT OF SPECIAL CARE WHEN PLANTING , JUST SOME BASIC GUIDELINES SHOULD HELP YOU NEW BEAUTY BECOME WELL ADAPTED TO ITS NEW SURROUNDINGS. 

YOU SHOULD NOTE THE TIME OF YEAR THAT YOU PLANT YOUR JAPANESE MAPLE. I HAVE PLANTED THEM ANY TIME OF YEAR, EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE GROUND IS FROZEN. WHEN THE MAPLE IS DORMANT IN THE LATE FALL TO EARLY SPRING, IT IS VERY HARDY, HARD TO "HURT", AND A GREAT TIME TO PLANT. 

SIMPLY DIG A HOLE ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE OF THE ROOTBALL OF THE MAPLE, ADD A LITTLE POTTING MIX, OR LOOSE SOIL, IF YOU HAVE HEAVY CLAY SOIL. 

IN 25 YEARS OF GROWING JAPANESE MAPLES, THEM MAIN STATEMENT I WOULD MAKE ABOUT PLANTING A JAPANESE MAPLE IS TO NOT PLANT THE MAPLE TOO DEEPLY. THEY LIKE MOIST, BUT WELL DRAINING SOIL, AND DO NOT LIKE WATER :STANDING" AROUND THE TRUNK. SO PLANT IT UP HIGH, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE ROOTBALL ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL, TO ALLOW FOR SETTLING, AND FOR WATER TO RUN OFF FROM STANDING AROUND THE TRUNK FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. 

THEN I WOULD WATER IT VERY WELL TO REMOVE AIR, ADD A GOOD LAYER OF MULCH, AND FERTILIZE WITH A MILD FERTILIZER. I DO NOT LIKE TO RECOMMEND FERTILIER AS IT REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR SOIL CONTENT, BUT I USE A TIME RELEASE 18-6-12 TO FEED THE MAPLE FOR THE ENTIRE GROWNING SEASON, AND NOT BURN THE MAPLE WITH TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME. 

THE OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANTING.

IF YOU ARE IN A VERY COLD CLIMATE, YOU CAN PLANT THE MAPLE CLOSER TO YOUR HOME FOR A LITTLE EXTRA PROTECTION. IF YOU ARE IN A VERY HOT CLIMATE, I WOULD TRY TO INCORPORATE A LITTLE SHADE.