![]() How to use Japanese Maples effectively in the landscape These are the larger, hardy red-leaved Japanese Maples that are quite common in neighbourhoods where they have been growing for decades. Most of us are familiar with the classic “Bloodgood” variety. The smaller threadleaf weeping varieties of Japanese Maples work beautifully as specimen trees in rock gardens or as part of a water feature reflecting the flowing nature of a waterfalls. (I made that mistake and lost two trees during a particularly cold winter.) Consider moving them into a greenhouse if you want to grow Japanese Maples in a container in these colder zones. Japanese Maples can be used in containers in the warmer zones (7-8-9) where the containers do not freeze completely.ĭo not put prized Japanese Maples in containers in zones 5 and 6a without providing significant winter protection. Used effectively as an understory tree, the larger Japanese Maples can work in landscape plans to form the perfect transition from the height of say, a two-storey home, to the garden’s ground level. If you are looking to add one of these stunning trees, ensure it has extra protection from extreme cold and winds during the winter months. Some golden varieties of Japanese Maples do not do well in the colder zones. These stunning trees that grow in zones 5-8, are native to Japan where they have developed many different cultivars, each with their own growing styles. While they are not native to North America, Japanese Maple trees can be an important addition to a woodland garden adding year-round interest to the understory, while providing nesting spots and other benefits for birds and other wildlife. (Link to outstanding photos of the tree) Photographers are actually known to make annual pilgrimages to the tree each year in fall just to try and capture its magnificence. If you want to see what your Japanese Maple can become, just take a look at the spectacular Japanese Maple that makes its home in the Portland Japanese garden. For the first few years after planting, the tree’s roots will be working to settle into their new environment and will put on very little top growth. ![]() With this in mind, if you want a large specimen, you might have to invest in a larger (more expensive) specimen from a good nursery.ĭon’t be surprised if it takes three or even four years after planting a large specimen to begin showing signs of real growth again. The upright varieties can put on maybe a foot of growth a year once they are established, while the smaller weeping varieties might only put on six inches or less. ![]() Japanese Maples are relatively slow-growing trees that can easily take 20-25 years to mature into beautiful specimens. That’s never a good thing for maintaining the shape of your maples.įor more on Japanese Maples and Japanese-inspired gardens, be sure to check out my post on Five tips to create a Japanese-inspired Gardens. Male deer, however, have been known to use the smaller trees either to remove antler velvet, or as a sparring partner during mating season. I have never experienced a problem with deer in our garden. Although deer may check them out, they generally leave them alone. There is definitely a Japanese Maple to fit any and all landscapes. Some Japanese Maples grow tall (up to 20-25 feet), others are more upright, ideal for narrow areas.Įven the bark of the Japanese Maples vary widely in both colour and textures. Many Japanese Maples have a palmatum leaf structure, but some have more lacy, cutleaf foliage that range from mildly serrated to more extreme forms. Some varieties even have a variegated leaf. There is an incredible variety of Japanese Maples ( genus Acer), some that have red/purple leaves, others that feature green leaves and still others that boast a more golden foliage. ![]() The enormous selection of varieties available – from the weeping, cutleaf trees that can be tucked into the smallest of spots and are at home in containers, to the full-size acers that add architectural interest and hits of colour to the understory of larger woodland gardens – makes Japanese Maples a staple in today’s landscapes. The Japanese Maple is a popular small- to mid-size tree that fits into any landscape, but is especially at home in today’s more compact urban properties.
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