How to Grow an Emperor Japanese Maple
Not content to have the flashy foliage of other Japanese maples, Emperor I (Acer palmatum 'Wolff') offers the added pop of dark red, almost black bark to go along with the scarlet foliage. A deciduous tree, Emperor I grows to 15 feet tall with an equal spread and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 to 8. Ideal for either accent or foundation plantings, Emperor I is, like other Japanese maples, easy to care for. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Mulch
- Rake
- Fertilizer
- Pruning equipment
- Burlap or other insulating material
Instructions
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1
Water the young Emperor I Japanese maple often enough to keep the soil moist. Once its root system is established, you can cut back on the frequency of irrigation, allowing the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry before watering.
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2
Mulch the soil around the Japanese maple tree. Keep the mulch 6 inches from the tree's trunk and use a rake to spread it out to the drip line, completely surrounding the tree. A pine bark mulch is ideal for the Emperor I.
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3
Use a 4-12-8 fertilizer, in early spring, at the rate suggested on the label for the size of your Japanese maple. Apply the fertilizer to the soil, 3 inches from the trunk and out to the drip line. Water as you normally do after fertilizing.
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4
Wait until the Emperor I goes dormant to do any pruning. It does not require pruning, but cutting off dead and weak branches is always a good idea.
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5
Wrap the young Emperor I in burlap for its first three years. Get the material on the tree after the first frost and allow it to remain until the last.
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