How to Care for Japanese Maples

Do you love Japanese maples? Are you considering adding them to your landscape plan, but aren’t sure where to start? Japanese maples are stunning dwarf trees that are actually easy to grow once they are established. These exotic and gorgeous landscape specimens add a great look to the home landscape. Read on to learn how to care for your Japanese Maple.

Japanese Maple Trees: The Basics

Sunlight: Many Japanese Maple trees prefer some shade to avoid leaf scorch in summer, especially in warmer climates. There are varieties that are more sun tolerant than others so you can definitely find a great Japanese maple for your particular planting site regardless of sunlight conditions.

Soil: These trees prefer a slightly acidic, fertile, moist soil.

Food: Feed your Japanese maple when planting and in spring with our no burn slow release fertilizer for best results.

When To Plant Japanese Maple

Spring and fall are the best times to plant Japanese maples in most climates. Cooler growing zones should avoid planting in late fall to be sure your newly planted tree has time to establish before winter. If you live in a region with mild summers, summer planting is fine. Just be sure your new Japanese maple gets plenty of water.

How to Plant and Care for a Japanese Maple

Right before planting water your potted Japanese maple tree thoroughly.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and about as deep as the root ball is tall.
Put your Japanese maple tree in the hole and check at a distance of 10 feet or so from every angle to ensure your tree is straight. The top of the root ball should be just slightly higher than the soil line. This ensures that you do not plant your tree too deeply.
Backfill with the soil you dug up or up to a 50/50 mixture of native soil and planting mix.
Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch around your tree and extend the mulch mound a couple of inches beyond the tree’s canopy. Do not pile mulch against the trunk as this can increase the chance of pests and disease. The mulch should be an inch or so away from the trunk.
Water your new tree deeply at the base with a hose.
Water once daily for the first week, and 2 to 3 times per week while your Japanese maple is establishing.

Japanese Maple Watering

Japanese maples are truly low maintenance once they are established. However a deep watering when there is drought will always be welcomed by these trees, especially when they are in full sun and in summer in warmer climates. Moist soil translates to a happier, faster growing tree that is less likely to get leaf scald. Fertilizer isn’t necessary if your soil is rich and your tree is growing well and looking healthy, but it can give Japanese maple trees a boost. They do like fertile soil and gladly absorb the nutrients.

Now that you know How to Care for Japanese Maples, browse our Japanese Maple collection and have one delivered to your home! For a red variety try the Bloodgood Japanese Maple or the Tamukeyama Japanese Maple. For a stunning mix of coral and yellow hues try the Coral Bark Japanese Maple. Happy planting!