Japanese maple tree

NoobCannon · 16 Apr 2019 at 18:41

Hi all,

Anyone have any experience with the above tree? Was bought one as a Christmas/moving in present, have been eying them up for a while as they are beautiful when the leaves go red.

Mine appears to be growing upwards rather than sprouting more branches lower down will provide picture this evening.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips.

gort · 16 Apr 2019 at 19:41

Don't know about this specific tree but are you pruning/clipping it at all.
Pinching/pruning out new upper growth should get it to bush out more.
That's from my limited knowledge on this but I do this with a few of my plants in the garden.

NoobCannon · 16 Apr 2019 at 20:03

Havent done a single thing to it really, obv kept it coverd whilst it was cold, uncovered it about a
Month ago. Now the weathers starting to get better will be the time to start sorting it out.

Its the one in the grey pot incase theres any confusion! (Ignore the rest of the mess just got back from the shop with a load of bedding plants and various bits!

Steampunk · 16 Apr 2019 at 20:19

If it's in a pot, it will need a lot of watering over the summer. Make sure it's well drained. If it gets too hot, it will get scorched and will need to be moved into a more shady spot. Pruning is as per above ie, prune the long straggly bits you don't want, and it will be forced to grow lower down where you want it to grow.

Keeping it in a pot will keep it small, planting it out into the garden (shady spot) and they can grow to full size. Most smaller versions are about six foot tall, but I have seen some that are so happy in the right conditions that they get double that.

NoobCannon · 16 Apr 2019 at 20:30

Steampunk said:
If it's in a pot, it will need a lot of watering over the summer. Make sure it's well drained. If it gets too hot, it will get scorched and will need to be moved into a more shady spot. Pruning is as per above ie, prune the long straggly bits you don't want, and it will be forced to grow lower down where you want it to grow.

Keeping it in a pot will keep it small, planting it out into the garden (shady spot) and they can grow to full size. Most smaller versions are about six foot tall, but I have seen some that are so happy in the right conditions that they get double that.

Thanks for this, i want it to stay small, as you can see in the background we already have a good sized tree growing (hazlenut) and i want this one to be ornamental only. Where its located is partly shaded by the above tree and there are grape vines growing over the wooden structure.

I think ill maybe trim the sticky out branches to around half thier height. And hopefully it will grow more a bit lower down, or do you think this may be too much to cut off at once?

Steampunk · 16 Apr 2019 at 20:53

NoobCannon said:
Thanks for this, i want it to stay small, as you can see in the background we already have a good sized tree growing (hazlenut) and i want this one to be ornamental only. Where its located is partly shaded by the above tree and there are grape vines growing over the wooden structure.

I think ill maybe trim the sticky out branches to around half thier height. And hopefully it will grow more a bit lower down, or do you think this may be too much to cut off at once?

No, it will be fine. Just cut them back to where you want them, and it will grow where it's not being cut back. You're only at risk of shocking a tree like that if you take more than 20 percent off at once, but most things recover anyway.

NoobCannon · 17 Apr 2019 at 21:20

Cut all the tallest branches down to just above where the most leaves are today so fingers cross it survives and chunks out a bit instead of growing upwards!

Sasahara · 17 Apr 2019 at 22:38

Acers are pretty robust and can take a lot of pruning. They are used in bonsai at lot.

It's the soil that needs to be checked. If the conditions are good it should do well.

If your soil is slightly acidic, sandy, well-drained loam with a good amount of organic matter, then you have the perfect conditions to grow Japanese maples. Do not worry if you have not; most can be grown in other soils. However, they will not tolerate wet, dry or very alkaline conditions.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=126

SPG · 17 Apr 2019 at 22:52

Watch the wind with them, otherwise as above, but yes gorgeous trees.

SimonR · 17 Apr 2019 at 23:00

Acers are reasonably hardy but are very susceptible to wind scorching, which will kill them. Keep it away from gates and openings where it will be exposed to wind. I have lost 2 to wind scorch. A red and a black.

psd99 · 19 Apr 2019 at 22:15

Have one myself
Lovely tree right next to my pond

Quite tall now
Never understood how to prune it, although I do love the red leaves!

Blackjack Davy · 20 Apr 2019 at 00:15

Argh ignore the advice about hacking them to bits japanese maples are delicate plants they do not need a lot of attention other than keeping them watered and fed. A little tidying up of dead and crossing branches and thats about it. A sheltered spot away from prevailing winds as that will scorch the foliage badly partial shade is fine avoid dry sunbaked spots. Where it is looks ok if its out of the wind.

Double07 · 20 Apr 2019 at 16:55

I have 4 of these and they all grow in random ways, pruning it as best you can seems about all you can do to try and enourcage it to grow where you want but I wouldnt go hacking at them too much