Japanese Maples
Japanese maples add beauty and
interest to the home landscape. They have smooth bark and weeping branches
along with attractive foliage. The trees are quite versatile and can be grown
in many settings such as a specimen or accent plant, a patio tree, in containers
or in groupings.
There are hundreds of varieties of Japanese maples and they can range from being relatively inexpensive to over $1000 for some specimens. The shape of the trees varies from low growing and spreading to upright with a vase shape. There are many colors of foliage
ranging from green to purple-red to orange. The many varieties can be classified as either dissected or non-dissected. The dissected types have leaves with deeply cut finely serrated lobes. Most of these types have a low growing, compact shape with a twisted branching pattern. Their reddish-purple leaves turn a bright orange color in the fall. The non-dissected varieties have leaves that have lobes that are not as heavily serrated and are more upright in their growth habits. The foliage generally has a green to bronze color during the summer turning to a red to purple color in the fall.
Japanese maples are hardy trees that require minimal care once established. The soil should be kept evenly moist, high in organic matter and well drained. Since the trees can suffer from excessive wind, they should be planted in protected locations. Full sun can cause the leaves to become scorched in which the leaves turn brown on the edges and between the veins. The condition results from the excessive loss of leaf moisture caused by the hot sun and dry conditions. The trees have shallow root systems that contribute to the problem. Apply supplemental water frequently, especially during prolonged hot dry spells. Part shade, especially in the afternoon, will help reduce the likelihood of this happening. The green leaf varieties can tolerate more sun than red or variegated leaf forms.
There are hundreds of varieties of Japanese maples and they can range from being relatively inexpensive to over $1000 for some specimens. The shape of the trees varies from low growing and spreading to upright with a vase shape. There are many colors of foliage
ranging from green to purple-red to orange. The many varieties can be classified as either dissected or non-dissected. The dissected types have leaves with deeply cut finely serrated lobes. Most of these types have a low growing, compact shape with a twisted branching pattern. Their reddish-purple leaves turn a bright orange color in the fall. The non-dissected varieties have leaves that have lobes that are not as heavily serrated and are more upright in their growth habits. The foliage generally has a green to bronze color during the summer turning to a red to purple color in the fall.
Japanese maples are hardy trees that require minimal care once established. The soil should be kept evenly moist, high in organic matter and well drained. Since the trees can suffer from excessive wind, they should be planted in protected locations. Full sun can cause the leaves to become scorched in which the leaves turn brown on the edges and between the veins. The condition results from the excessive loss of leaf moisture caused by the hot sun and dry conditions. The trees have shallow root systems that contribute to the problem. Apply supplemental water frequently, especially during prolonged hot dry spells. Part shade, especially in the afternoon, will help reduce the likelihood of this happening. The green leaf varieties can tolerate more sun than red or variegated leaf forms.
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