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 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT JAPANESE MAPLES 

Japanese maples are one of the most sought after plants for a property. Their striking texture, unique form, and beautiful colouring can't help but add value to your landscape.

However, not all locations are suitable for growing this plant, no matter how much you may want to have one. Japanese maples are not terribly happy growing under stress, and may perform poorly or fail entirely if sited or grown improperly.  Growing one in a pot year round, for example, is not recommended, and is not warrantied.

Here are some general recommendations. While there are always exceptions, it is hoped that this will make you more aware of this plant's requirements for best growth, and assess prior to purchase the suitability of this plant in your garden.

  1. Japanese maples perform best in a Canadian Zone 6 hardiness zone or milder. The K-W area lies largely at the edge of this zone, but as we are on the cusp of 5b, it is not uncommon to see a colder than normal winter with some degree of frequency. To lessen the chance of mortality due to cold, it is advisable to have a location where the plant is sheltered from the prevailing northwest winter winds.
     
  2. Japanese maples like the sun, but not always do they like it shining intensely upon them all day. If possible, try to find a location that gets a bit of light shade in the afternoon. If it IS intensely hot, it may require a little more attention to monitoring the plant's moisture conditions.
     
  3. Japanese maples aren't particularly happy with rapid fluctuations in soil moisture content, nor with sitting in an overly wet location. Many neighbourhoods in the K-W area and surrounding are situated on clay subsoils. This impedes the percolation of water away from the root system, and during wet years (or with excessive watering), the Japanese maple can suffer from root rot. Severe root rot will kill a Japanese maple. While not recommended for planting on clay soils (due to their unforgiving nature), if it is attempted it is imperative that the plant be planted high to the grade (the top of the root ball should be elevated above the lawn grade), left unmulched, and carefully watered. Additionally, should the plant see changes in soil moisture content, the plant may experience 'leaf scorching' as a result. While not generally considered fatal, it does contribute to an unattractive apperance to the plant.
     
  4. Many Japanese maples grow eventually to a fairly large size. In general, those that are 'upright growing' will eventually get to become small trees. Those that are weeping in form often do not grow much taller than they are when they are purchased in a person's lifetime. Some care should be taken to ensure that as the plant becomes more valuable there isn't the need to drastically prune the plant to maintain its size. In general, the plant should be spaced at 1/2 its maximum width away from a structure or pathway.

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