After Planting Care Guide for your Maple

Do not overwater. Roots like to be moist (not wet), drying out between waterings. Simply stick your finger in the soil. If it’s dry a couple inches down it’s time to water. If your tree came in a bag with moss on it, the moss is a good indicator of moisture. If the moss is too dry, so is your tree. Young and potted trees require more consistent watering (about every 2-3 days during the summer) than older trees and trees that have been planted in the ground. Watering is usually not necessary during the winter months, but do remove any snow that has collected around the trunk/base of the tree. 

Identify the grafted site on the tree trunk and remove any leaves or branches that grow below it. The younger your tree, the higher the chance of growth below the grafted site.

Check on your tree throughout the seasons to make sure the leaves are healthy from bugs or disease, making sure it is not getting too much sun. If it is overly hot outside, your tree will need more consistent watering. If you go on vacation during the hot summer months, make sure you have a way to water it while you are gone such as a self-watering globe. Do not move your tree when it is hot outside, or from shade to sun or sun to shade during the middle of the day. 

It is not necessary to water during the winter unless we experience a drought or unless you moved your potted tree to a covered area. They need much less water in the winter. Do not move your tree indoors, it is too dry inside.

Fertilizing may cause your tree to grow out of its intended shape. To feed your tree, simply top the soil with finished compost once a year.

Worried about your potted tree getting too cold in the winter? You may move it to a non-heated garage during worrisome nights, or pull it close to a wall of your home. Alternatively, if it gets below freezing for more than a few hours, insulate the pot with a thick blanket or use bubble wrap or a burlap sack to protect the roots from freezing. Trees planted in the ground will be safe as the ground only freezes about 8cm deep in the mid-south. Mulch can also help to insulate your tree.

You can trim your Japanese maple tree up to four times a year. Trim any branches that grow back towards the trunk, especially the weeping varieties. Keep your tree a consistent shape, cutting any branches that grow outside of that shape. Trim branches that are too close together or that crowd out sunlight from getting to that part of the tree. Remove any dead branches that do not grow new leaves. If you decide to trim only once a year, keep in mind that any heavy trimming should be done during the winter when the tree is dormant. Never remove more than one third of the height of the tree at one time.

If you identify a problem with your tree that you do not know how to solve, please feel free to call us as soon as you see an issue or send us a picture of the issue via direct message on social media and we will try and help you come up with a solution.