Planting Japanese Maples
A garden at my Bedford, New York farm goes through another transformation.
Every year, I always add a few interesting and rare trees to the gardens. The space behind my Tenant House is already filled with shade-loving plants and a variety of Japanese maples, but there were a couple of bare spots that needed filling. Four Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' trees from Select Horticulture, Inc. were the perfect specimens to plant in these areas. Yesterday's weather was warm and pleasant, so my outdoor grounds crew went to work to get them all in the ground.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Few trees are as stunning as the Japanese maple. With more than a thousand varieties and cultivars including hybrids, the iconic Japanese maple tree is among the most versatile small trees for use in the landscape. Japanese maples are native to areas of Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. In Japan, the maple is called the “autumn welcoming tree” and is planted in the western portion of gardens – the direction from which fall arrives there.
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- These Japanese maples, Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood,’ are from Select Horticulture, Inc, a nursery in nearby Pound Ridge, New York. When i saw them, I knew right away where I wanted to plant them.
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- The leaves consist of five or seven pointed, lobed, wine-red to burgundy leaves that hold their color in summer and turn vibrant crimson red in fall before dropping.
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- The crew carefully wheels the trees into the garden using a large hand truck that is able to carry the weight of these heavy specimens.
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- I indicated exactly where to place them. When selecting a location for a tree, be sure to consider the size when the tree is mature. And place it far enough from any structures, so the branches do not touch anything.
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- It will be nice to see these trees from the expansive windows of the Tenant House. Some of the small plants were removed from the beds during this process and will be transplanted after planting is completed.
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- Alex begins to dig the holes. He watches out for the surrounding plants and any bulbs that are in the ground. A crucial step in growing healthy trees is to plant them at the proper depth. Planting a tree too deep can kill it.
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- A good rule of thumb is to dig the hole as deep as the root ball.
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- It is very important to feed the plants and trees. Here, José sprinkles a generous amount of Miracle-Gro all purpose fertilizer into the hole.
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- Feeding plants and trees when they are newly transplanted helps transplant survival and increases water and nutrient absorption.
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- The plastic wrap is removed from the root ball…
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- … and the burlap is also removed. The root ball should be completely bare of any wrapping before it is planted.
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- José then cuts off the bottom of the wire basket. Most trees will have this wire cage, so if one is not visible, be sure to feel for it – it may be covered by the roots. The crew also scarifies the root ball at this stage. Don’t be afraid to scarify – this stimulates root growth. Small portions of the roots are purposely cut to loosen them and create beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new environment.
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- Slowly the crew rotates the tree on its root ball closer to the hole. When moving heavy trees, never hold one by its branches, which could easily break. The crew uses heavy metal bars to maneuver the tree into place.
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- The root system is not known to be invasive so there are no worries for structural damages. The crew lowers the tree the rest of the way down into its new hole.
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- Then the crew looks at the tree from all sides to ensure its best side is facing the footpath. It is also a good time to check that it is completely straight.
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- Once positioning is perfect, backfilling begins until the hole is filled. And remember, don’t plant it too deeply – leave it “bare to the flare.” After putting a new tree into the ground, be sure to keep it slightly moist for the first year as it takes root.
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- José waters the tree thoroughly to remove any air pockets and to settle the soil.
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- This upright Japanese maple is a large deciduous tree that will grow 15 to 20 feet tall and wide when mature.
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- Here is another one of the group closer to my Tenant House where it will get full sun to part shade. Red and variegated leaves need relief from the hot afternoon sun but need the light to attain full color. This area is perfect for my new Japanese maples.
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- These trees will need little maintenance – just light grooming to remove dead or crisscrossing branches when it is dormant. This garden already looks so much better with the exquisite colors of these Japanese maples. Japanese maples typically grow about one-foot per year for the first 50-years, but they can live to be more than a hundred years old.
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