The initial stage of planting a Japanese maple tree, whether individually or on a commercial scale, is a decisive moment for the life of plant. Certain cautionary steps can increase the growth rate and this endeavor will turn out to be profitable. The chosen site for the plant should be selected keeping in mind the sunlight, the flow of air and the condition of soil. The digging of the site is the first step when you have made it sure that the site is fulfilling all the necessary elements.
Digging involves certain steps that should be flowed in order to get the desirable results. Take out the soil out of the ground, the amount of soil to be removed from the ground usually depends upon the size of roots but it should span 2 to 3 times the size of the root system. This is to accommodate the future expansion of the roots which need an extra space. If this proportion is ignored at this stage then it is possible that the roots will intermingle with the neighboring trees.
If you are planting the tree for the indoor then it usually involves the use of pots and containers. In that case the structure of roots should be spread across the whole container, this way the plant will easily manage its roots over the period of time. But this process should be done with some caution as roots are most sensitive part of the pant and needs extra attention. Think of the roots as a human brain, they control all the major functions of the plant including transportation of water throughout the plant so too much expansion of roots at this stage can cause them to lose control of the different sections of the plant.
Always try to place the plant in a container in the best possible way which usually means in the centre of the container, this is reminder because at this stage you can easily adjust the position of the plant which becomes quite difficult once the plant is fully established. After doing this you can fill the rest of the container with the suitable soil.
The plant most of the time comes in a bag made up of jute fabric, there is no need to remove them before putting the tree into the soil, the reason behind this suggestion is that the jute fabric will disintegrate by itself. But to make ensure that the roots will spread across easily you can remove this bag. If the bag is made up of any other non dissolvable material then it should be certainly be removed.
Only smaller shrubs and trees come in the bags, the larger trees are mostly available with baskets. Before planting the larger trees you must remove all the metallic objects attached with the baskets, but it is suggested not to remove the basket as this action can damage the root system that is securely placed inside the basket. One thing that should be taken in account at this stage is to ensure that the roots get easy access to the soil and this can be achieved by drilling some openings into the basket.
After planting the tree make sure to water the plant immediately so that it can recover all the moisturizer that is lost during this hectic job. You can also try making a loop around the tree in order to limit the supply of water only to the single tree, which sometimes proves to be very useful as in most cases without this loop the water will not reach properly to all corners of the tree.
Japanese maples always remind us of the autumn, but this is not an accurate picture of these lovely trees. They can flourish throughout the year, which makes them a plant of every season. The spring season gives them vivid colors like red and copper brown. These may sound too shocking colors, but shocking is not a right word for these lovely trees as they naturally adapt with the ambiance. In summers, the leaves get soft and light colours which add delight to the overall environment. Although the trees carry no leaves in the winter but their structure will be a fresh addition to the surroundings. The colourful stems of some maples will leave an impression on the senses of the viewer.
Adaptable Tree
Different types of Japanese maples can fit in different places and situations and their adaptability makes them handy all the time. Take the example of Weeping range, their bulgy shape appears to be dipping in water when planted near a pool or fountain. This lets the viewer wonder whether fountains are built to adapt with this charming tree. The smaller sizes are usually placed in the busiest parts of the home and offices. This increases their visibility and in this way their charm can be enjoyed by many people. Terrace is another important place in any building and we can add the taller trees here to make them more graceful. Moreover the larger trees can be utilized to make a lane, which will give the fresh feeling to anyone passing through them.
Not only Japanese maples have looks that dazzle the surroundings, they are affordable as well. As with any general item, the rarer they are the more expensive they get. Same is the case with the rare range of these trees, which should not trouble any Japanese maple lover, because it is only the case with the rare species. If you are looking for an affordable maple tree and can sacrifice its vigor for some part of the year then there is handful range waiting for you. Japanese maples with green leaves fall under this category, in autumn you can enjoy the charming colors of orange, yellow and red for which these trees are famous across the globe.
With affordable prices you can easily give exotic look to your favorite places. Planting a Japanese maple is a good idea if you want to stay in the limited budget. The only thing you really have to care about is the trouble of pest. They can give a hard time to the development of the plant, as in some cases they can cause them to die as well. The most commonly available pesticides can prove to be a good option at this stage of growth. But this period of care is limited. Japanese maples will take care of themselves once they reach to a mature stage of age. And you can enjoy the glowing colors of these gorgeous trees.
Once fully planted Japanese maples require a good two-three hour of sunshine in the morning. And in the hottest period of the day you need to use some kind of shading to avoid any damage to the leaves.
In the hotter parts of the world this becomes more of an essential instruction to follow, as shading proves to be a very good way to avoid direct sunlight. If proper care is not shown in this regard it can burn the leaves and eventually will damage the natural colors. These instructions will not sound too much demanding to a plant lover as each plant comes with its own list of do’s and don’ts. Over the time these instructions will become the part of your habits, and you will not feel as you are carrying out any activity. Once you have made them as your habit then you can manage number of plants without any extra burden. This will prove to be beneficial even if you are planning to produce these Japanese maple trees on a commercial level where you have to look after large number of plants.
As with every plant that grows in a pot it becomes rudimentary to change the pot after couple of years, this is true in the case of Japanese maple tree as well. The potted trees are often placed inside the home and offices, and the pot itself plays an important role in the aesthetic aspect of the plant because often the tree is placed inside the buildings as a centre of attraction. The change in the color scheme of the environment can sometime become the reason behind changing the pot of the tree. Moreover hygienically it is desired to change the pot as it can easily become a hideout of contaminated items.
The change will give a new look to the same old maple tree which actually will freshen the environment as well. Experts suggest that the ideal time for this procedure is the middle of spring season. The wisdom behind this act is explained by the gardeners by stating the fact that it is better to change the pot before the emergence of new leaves. There are some simple instructions that are required to be followed to successfully achieve the end results. Moisture plays a vital role for the Japanese maple trees, as the change in the pot will involve the soil to be kept in open air for some time and this can cause the dehydration for the lovely tree. To avoid such situation the plant should be watered regularly before going for such a venture.
The new soil should be fertile enough to fulfill the growing needs of the Japanese maple trees. It is a well known fact that the ideal soil for these trees is of acidic or neutral nature as they cannot tolerate the alkaline soil comfortably. The new soil should confirm these essential requirements so that change may bring favorable results instead of trouble.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that Japanese maple trees are not known for their tolerance for over dosage of water. An over dose can severely damage the root system which eventually will leave the tree with extreme problems. The pot plays a vital role in the drainage of the water, so all the expert recommend that the change in pot is a good opportunity to place some stones at the base of the pot to achieve the safety measure.
The maple tree should be pulled out of the pot avoiding any damage to the leaves and bark. The more gently you will complete the process the more smoothly the plant will pull out from the pot. Hold the base of the tree to achieve greater control over the complete tree. Place some stones in the new pot and make a layer of the soil to cover these stones. This will ensure the optimal drainage of the water from the pot. Place the tree gently in the new pot, and try to achieve the same altitude of soil as it used to have in the old pot.
Now it is time to fill the pot completely with the new soil. The process of changing the pot ends here but for couple of weeks it should be kept under observation for any unusual event. The new soil should be watered regularly to keep the moisturizing level at a desirable state. If you notice any change in the color of leaves apart from the usual transition then it should not be taken lightly as this might have something to do with the new soil or pot.
Butterfly Japanese maple
It is an excellent choice for a small modest garden. These upright small trees are good for nearly all the seasons. The leaves take different colors with the change in season. The autumn blazes with the red colors and the rest of the year color changes from gray green to bright pink. It doesn’t demand any special treatment except for the usual moisturizer in the soil and protection from extreme sunlight. Generally it is known to be a small tree and can rise up to 10 feet in height. The leaves have variation in the shapes and most of them are take a curved shape. It has gained amazing popularity due to its vibrant colors that it manifests from time to time depending upon the season.
Filigree Japanese maples
The expert gardeners differentiate between green filigree and its sister breed red filigree. But for a general lover of plants both are same except for their colors. The tree bears dissected leaves which are larger in size in relation to other dissected types of Japanese maples. Moreover what really gives it a delicate look than other is the presence of small white dots, which are not visible from a distance but a closer look to leaves gives a soothing experience to the eyes. It is renowned for its slow growth and few inches of growth can take years but this patience pays off in the end as the charming tree adds beauty to every ambiance. As it is the characteristic of maple trees that they carry a different color in the autumn so this tree is not an exception. The orange colors give it an interesting look through out the fall. The plant carries not a good reputation for facing sunlight so it should be given proper protection from sun.
Higasayama Japanese maples
An amazing piece for structure as it can take the height of 15 feet, and the surprising part is that it can take the width of 15 feet as well. The horizontal growth gives it a touch which most of the maple trees lack and the whole structure looks so elegant that influences the mood of viewer. The new leaves always take the red colors and over the period up till maturity they take a green color blended with pink color. In fall it takes the same color of that it had in its infancy and turns into red. It can also be used as an ornamental tree inside the home and for this purpose a tray or pot can easily be used. The immense fame that it has gained is justified as it changes the whole ambiance with its amazing colors.
Okushimo
The name at first seems a little difficult to pronounce as it comes from Japanese language which translates as salt and paper. This tree belongs to the rare collection of unusual group of Japanese maples. The green colour gets best when it meets this plant. The leaf is an astounding peace of art as it is seven lobed. The experience told the experts that it has a very slow growth and for this reason it is not widely planted all over the world. Although the tree carries a historical background of almost 300 years but the slow growth has become a major hurdle in its popularity. A clear understanding of its growth can be appreciated by knowing the fact that it gains half feet in a decade.
Omurayama
The cascading effect that this tree produces is truly magnificent. The weeping leaves cover the complete perimeter of the plant. The tree lies in the category of small trees and the leaves are deeply dissected. The green color dominates the life of this tree and in only spring do we see a change in the color when it turns into orange. Moreover in the autumn the leaves can take the color of red and gold which not only sounds astonishing but completely changes the ambiance of the garden. The viewers always admire this tree for its magnificent color schemes.
The Japanese maples do not require additional fertilization if the soil is already known to be fertile. Fertilization of soil is a vital element in the overall growth of the maple tree and the experts describe the need of fertile soil as essential. The vibrancy in the color of leaves depend on two important factors; the appropriate sunlight and the fertility of the soil. So to fully appreciate the colors and bloom of these trees it is essential to take in account the proper analysis of the fertility of soil.
If the soil is known to be less fertile then appropriate fertilization for the Japanese maple tree becomes indispensable. The newly planted maple trees require fertilizers for the ideal growth and establishment of the root system. It is generally a well known fact that the best fertilizer to be used at this stage is the one that contains fine amount of phosphorous. The first four month require suitable quantity of this fertilizer so that the plant can have strong roots which will bring the strong grip of soil, this is essentially required for the sustenance of the young maple tree.
Often it is assumed that if a land is known to have fertility then it will maintain this quality over an indefinite period of time. This is not accurate scientifically. Fertility is not a constant state and a land can lose some of it and even can gain it through natural means. The expert gardeners recommend checking the level of fertilization in the ground on yearly basis. If you notice that the trees are losing their vibrant colors that earlier they used to have then it is a good reason for the inspection of soil.
The tall trees can grow exceptionally if they are provided with the recommended amount of fertilizers after couple of years. The small trees and shrubs on the other hand require this attention yearly. If you are unsure about the exact nature of the soil, then tests are conducted to check the exact level of the required elements. It is a good practice to go for such tests as they will bring a clear picture of the problem.
Sometimes the soil is lacking only a specific nutrient and other elements are present in it abundantly, so in this case adding a general fertilizer will not be a feasible solution. It will remove the deficiency of that specific nutrient but eventually it is going to overdose the soil with other nutrients. This is the sole reason behind testing the soil, as it will bring about the exact nutrient that needs to be added in the soil. The general and specific fertilizers are available in the market easily but before buying you should be clear about your choice.
It should be clear enough that fertilizers are only used as a supplementary item and the plant should not rely solely on them.
The amount of fertilization varies for the new trees and the adult trees. These recommended amounts can be confirmed from an expert gardener as they can tell any necessary precaution for a particular Japanese maple tree. One thing should be kept in mind that adding fertilization in the spring is not a good idea as it will enforce the quick growth of the leaves which in the long term will weaken the plant. In the spring season the plant should be allowed to grow on its natural resources and no artificial element is required at this stage. Fertilizers should be added in the seasons which are not known for any growth.
