When to Plant Japanese Maple Trees

A Japanese maple's leaves are crimson in the autumn.

The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) pleases all year round with its elegant bark and exceptional leaf color. Well-sized for a backyard tree, this small maple ranges from 12 to 25 feet depending on the cultivar. Your Japanese maple will grow well and require little intervention if you plant it in the right place at the right time of the year.

Description

The showy leaves of the Japanese maple catch the eye in spring, summer and fall. The initial color of the delicate leaves varies between cultivars, and can be red, purple or a marbled pattern, darkening into crimson or maroon in the fall. Some cultivars produce regular maple leaves, while others have thin-lobed leaves giving them a lacy, romantic look, accenting the tree's smooth bark. The optimal planting time for a Japanese maple depends on how it was grown.

Bare-Root Saplings

Nurseries grow some Japanese maple saplings in fields, removing them from the ground to sell. In early spring, they offer bare-root trees that they pluck from the earth without retaining any soil. These trees are dormant and need soil around their roots before they leaf out. A bare-root tree is an inexpensive option if you are prepared to plant it immediately. You must water the tree regularly until it establishes its root system in the new location.

Balled and Burlapped Trees

Other field-grown Japanese maple trees appear at the nursery with burlap-wrapped balls of soil surrounding their roots. If you buy a balled and burlapped Japanese maple, you can plant it in either spring or fall. Do not forget to loosen the burlap covering before you ease the root ball into the planting hole. Different cultivars prefer different amounts of sunshine, ranging from partial shade to full sun, but most prefer slightly shaded locations. All thrive in rich, moist soil.

Container-Grown Maples

Nurseries offer container-grown Japanese maples most of the year, and you can plant them year-round if you avoid extreme temperatures. This tree would have grown from a sprout in the same container, so plant it at the same level it is in the pot and be careful to loosen any girdled roots. Water the tree regularly after planting. During dry periods, leave the garden hose trickle water into the soil to moisten the top 12 inches. A coating of mulch helps the tree to maintain moisture.

References

• Natural Resources Conservation Service: Tree Planting
• Virginia Cooperative Extension; Japanese Maple; Alex X. Niemiera; May 1, 2009
• New York State University: Trees - Acer Palmatum