Care Before Planting

 

When to Plant

 

Where to plant

 

Soil Preparation and Planting

 

Mulching

 

Container Planting

 

Fertilizing

 

Pruning

 

Tips to Ensure a Healthy Thriving Plant…

 

 

 

 

 

Care Before Planting

 

Plants purchased from Japanese maples and Evergreens Nursery are sent in their original soil with the roots intact.   Every plant is in its original container reducing soil disturbance to a minimum so as not to harm the important root hairs.  They are then thoroughly watered and wrapped in plastic stretch wrap before being shipped two-day priority mail to insure minimum stress in transit to their new home.

 

When your new plant  arrives, keep it moist, but not soggy, until planting. Keep the package away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat. Containerized trees help insure excellent transplant success. If it is planted correctly it will grow twice as fast and live at least twice as long as one that is incorrectly planted. Inadequate soil preparation and improper planting are two frequent causes of failure.

 

All of our plants  roots are inoculated with beneficial mycorrhizae to help reduce stress and provide you with a healthier plant.

 

When to Plant

 

 

 

There is an old saying that states “The best time to plant is yesterday”.   If that didn’t happen, then the ideal planting time is now!   Other things to consider are if you plant in the fall you take advantage of the dormant season root growth. Unlike the tops of plants that go dormant and cease growth for the winter, roots of japanese maples and conifers continue to grow throughout the fall and early winter months if temperatures are not below freezing. Fall planting also allows the carbohydrates that are produced during the summer to be directed to root growth since there is little demand from the top. If you are planting in spring try to avoid disturbing any plant parts that recently has broken bud and is producing new, soft growth.

 

 

 

Where to plant

 

 

 

Most Japanese maple species and vines are naturally under story plants, but as gardeners we have forced them into the open landscape. Most evergreens and conifers can be planted in full sun.  There is a great degree of stress tolerance between the numerous cultivars.  Young trees will need to be protected from the elements until they have formed established root systems.

 

The placement of your plant can mean the difference between an attractive lush growing one and a straggly struggling one. With so many cultivars to choose from, this should not be a problem as you should be able to match your landscape situation with the right cultivar. Try to match your cultivar to your planting location with regards to the amount of sun, wind exposure and space available to the plant  you will receive.

 

Keep in mind when you place your plant into the landscape that morning sun and afternoon shade will suit most trees and vines best. Wind and hot sun can kill a small Japanese maple tree in no time, regardless of the cultivar.   Leaves will show signs of stress with burning on the tips. Sometimes the roots will become sun baked and the stress will show up in the leaves just like from too much sun or wind. Japanese maples are thin-barked and can be sun scalded during the first year or two after transplanting. This injury can set the trees growth back considerably.

 

 

 

Soil Preparation and Planting

 

 

 

Clay and poor draining soils

 

Most Japanese maple trees do not thrive in clay, heavy or poorly drained soils.  However many conifers and vines do.  For Japanese maples these types of soils can lead to root rot and bring about disease.   In addition plants breathe through their roots and these soil types are not suitable for growth because they are low in oxygen which is required for good root growth.

 

If your soil is heavy clay, make the planting hole 2 to 4 inches shallower than the root ball. In poorly drained or heavy clay soil, the plant is best placed higher than its original planting depth at about 4 to 6 inches higher than the surrounding soil, creating a raised mound. Poorly drained soils are a leading cause of plant problems in the landscape. It is a good idea to incorporate about 10-20 percent organic matter into the soil to help with drainage and aeration. Use only well-composted mulches.   A quality bag of potting soil mixed in will work just as well. Avoid fine- textured organic matter, such as sand or peat moss. Composted materials immediately provide organic matter to the soil and help with aeration. Do not use green bark products as amendments. Freshly milled bark that has not been composted will slowly rob plants of nitrogen when used as an amendment. As microorganisms in the soil feed on bark and decompose it, they will use nitrogen in the soil. Also, the pH of the soil often drops dramatically below the desirable range when uncomposted materials are used as amendments.

 

Be sure to build the soil up beside the root ball so that the sides are not exposed, and do not place additional soil on top of the root ball. This will allow oxygen to reach the roots in the upper surface of soil. Do not disturb the soil under the root ball to prevent any later settling, which will move the plant roots deeper into the soil.

 

 

 

Sandy or well drained soils.

 

In well-drained soil, the planting hole should never be dug any deeper than the height of the root ball, the planting hole should be at least twice and preferably five times wider than the root ball. Roots will grow more quickly into loosened soil, thus speeding up the tree’s establishment time. Mulch should be placed over the surface.

 

 

 

Mulching

 

 

 

Mulch is a good friend of your plants . Mulch protects the roots from the heat in summer, the cold in winter and reduces the frequency of watering. Apply a loose mulch, such as wood chips or pine needles over the planted area to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Be sure to keep mulch several inches away from the trunk of a Japanese maple tree so you it does not stay too wet and rot.   Be sure to mulch trees in containers too.

 

Container Planting

 

 

 

Planting in containers is a great way to start your Japanese maple, conifer or vine. However, from years of growing Japanese maples in containers I have come to learn that Japanese maples and conifers prefer to be somewhat snug in a container. If too much soil is allowed to sit around the rootball there is a greater chance of the soil becoming too saturated with water which can lead to root rot. This seems to be particularly true for smaller Japanese maples and conifers in containers.

 

So it is best not to use a container that is too big for your tree. As a general rule use a container no larger than twice the diameter of the rootball and half again as deep.   Another way to look at this is not to go more than double the volume of the rootball.

 

As the plant becomes larger, planting in wine barrels or other large containers is a great way to accent your patio, front porch or backyard.

 

 

Fertilizing

 

 

 

Everyone wants a bigger plant…now… but it is very easy to add too much fertilizer when trying to make your plants grow too fast and end up damaging your plant. In fact, most plants do not require any fertilizer for healthy growth. When they are pushed with fertilizer it often invites disease and dieback in the stems.

 

Please be careful with fertilizers!   Mistake number one is to give large amounts of nitrogen in the first and second years. A small amount of organic slow fertilizer in the Spring would be much better for your plants.  I highly recommend seaweed or kelp and also fish emulsion maples and conifers love it!  These are sustainable, eco-friendly and are very gentle on your plants.  Also it is nearly impossible to overfertilize your plants with these.

 

If you are going to use inorganic fertilizers, it is best to fertilize lightly in half dosages rather than full strength.

 

The timing of when to apply a fertilizer is also very important to keep in mind. Once transplanted it is best to wait and fertilize newly planted trees the second growing season after being planted. This gives the plant plenty of time to adapt to its new conditions.

 

Never put fertilizers such as dry pellets or fertilizer “spikes” containing nitrogen when planting a Japanese maple in the backfill because root injury may result. Be careful with top dressed granular fertilizers which can sometimes release too much fertilizer at a time and thus cause damage to your tree.

 

 

 

Pruning

 

 

 

Fall and winter is a common time to prune and shape trees and vines. Exceptions to this are maples which will bleed or ooze sap unless pruned when in leaf.   When Japanese maples are pruned in late winter or early spring the wounds flow with sap. If heavy sap flow occurs, pruning should be delayed until midsummer. This flow of sap can lead to disease invasion and weakening of the tree.   The preferred time to prune maples is between mid-July and August, a period when sap won’t run from cuts.   The one time when trees should not be pruned is during early spring when buds are breaking during leaf expansion.   Japanese maples should be given a thorough pruning every three years and minor “touch up” pruning annually.   A thorough pruning involves removing dead limbs, crossing branches (or branches that will cross in the future).

 

Give newly planted plants only minimal pruning. Removing too much top affects the production of food energy (carbohydrates) and can result in poor root development. After planting, prune out broken branches and those with weak or narrow crotches. With young Japanese maple trees, leave some of the lower limbs and sprouts even though they will be removed later. These limbs provide the closest source of food energy for root development. I have also found that trees will form a stronger trunk if the lower branches are not trimmed for a few years.

 

Tips to ensure a Healthy Japanese Maple…

 

 

 

1. Keep newly purchased plants moist and in the shade until planting.

 

2. Soil preparation, adding organic matter is important, especially if the soil is heavy clay.

 

3. Mulch with 6-8 inches of wood chips or other mulch after planting.  This reduces the need for frequent watering and protects the shallow roots.

 

4. Keep pruning of newly planted trees to a minimum.

 

5. Do not fertilize newly planted trees until the second growing season.

 

6. Provide filtered sunlight or morning sun and afternoon shade for your Japanese maple.