Japanese maple: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how should you plant a Japanese maple?
Plant a Japanese maple sheltered from drying winds and scorching sun. Light shade suits many cultivars, while some coloured foliage needs a little sunshine. Check the selection and mature size. Autumn and dormancy generally suit planting outside frost and waterlogged ground; spring planting needs attentive watering afterwards.
Choose humus-rich, moist, freely draining soil. Weed and dig wider than the rootball without excessive depth. Moisten the pot before removing it. Gently loosen circling outer roots without tearing the whole root system. Set the root collar at ground level and keep any graft union clear. Backfill with crumbled soil, firm gently and water to remove air pockets.
Mulch around the base while leaving the trunk free. During establishment, check both rootball and neighbouring soil moisture. For pot growing, choose a suitable form, a stable container with drainage holes and a medium that retains moisture while releasing excess. Do not leave permanent water in the saucer. Avoid cramping roots in an undersized container and preserve the natural outline rather than pruning hard at planting.
When does a Japanese maple flower?
How do you prune a Japanese maple?
How to care for this plant
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Maintain the mulch
Check the ground cover around the base. If the mulch has thinned, top it up on moist, well-drained soil after removing competing weeds. Keep the trunk, crown and graft union clear; add nothing if the existing layer is sufficient.
