Introducing the Japanese Maple
The Japanese Maple is a tree that can provide an exotic look to your garden at a minimal cost. You can grow full-sized trees or smaller ones to fit the sheltered corners of your garden. They are also perfect for growing in containers both inside and outside. Japanese Maple is a versatile tree.
Japanese Maples can become an excellent focal point for any garden regardless of the hundreds of varieties you choose. They come in several leaf shapes and a wide range of colors, so there is bound to be one that captures your imagination.
Japanese Maples come in over 1,000 varieties, though it is unlikely you will find more than 150 on sale. The leaves may be green, red, yellow, or orange, depending on the variety and season.
They are found in a wide range of sizes, some of which are large. However, they can easily be grown in a container if you wish. You work out the size of pot you need just by looking at your tree, but an example would be a one-foot square pot for a 4 1/2 ft high tree.
Japanese Maples are pretty tolerant trees and will remain healthy in some adverse conditions. They are also resistant to pruning and impacted by only a couple of well-known (curable) diseases.
Where you have a long driveway, planting Japanese Maples on either side to construct a lane can be very effective and create a real impact.
Avoiding Pests with Young Plants
Most of the time, Japanese Maples are resistant to pests, disease, and pruning, but there is a short period when they are young that pests can do a lot of damage to young plants. During this period, it is best to dose the plant with everyday pesticides. If you want to remain organic, painting the leaves with a washing-up liquid and water mixture can help.
If you live in a hotter climate, the tree will need some shade to avoid tree damage. If left out in bright sunshine too long, the leaves will burn and lose their attractive features.
In more temperate climates, younger plants will need at least three hours of sunshine in the early part of the day.
Compared to some trees, these requirements are not that hard to satisfy. Every plant has its own list of rules to follow.
The Ideal Conditions
The ideal condition for Japanese Maples is a temperate climate that is neither too hot nor too cold. Of course, if you live in a hot climate or cold one, then you can consider a position for the tree indoors, in a more controlled environment. They make attractive features in containers.
Another major factor that affects the Japanese Maple is the soil. They prefer either acidic or neutral soils to alkaline ones. If your tree is in a temperate zone, does not display more exotic colors, and is primarily green, there may not be enough sunshine. More water can also impact the colors that develop.
Occasional doses of fertilizer can help boost the tree’s defense mechanisms, and any parts of the tree that are inactive should be pruned.
Just follow these guidelines, and your Japanese Maple will be an asset to your garden for years to come.
Start Planting Your Japanese Maple
Fernandez and Sons is a professional landscape design and maintenance company located in Morristown, New Jersey, that services Morris County NJ and beyond. We can design an incredible landscape incorporating a Japanese maple and more. Once our work is finished, we can implement a landscape maintenance plan to keep all of the landscape shrubs, trees, and plants stay healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Contact Fernandez and Sons today.
