topic Re: Japanese Maple tree in Garden

Japanese Maple tree

Elom — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:03:37 GMT

I planted a Japanese Maple. It looks more like a bush with extra limbs coming out of base etc. Should I cut all of that off or leave it? Thanks for any help.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Kachina624 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:07:53 GMT

@Elom Perhaps @Lilysmom can help you. She's a Master Gardener who knows a lot about these trees.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

fthunt — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:16:53 GMT

If the growth you see are thin little branches - they are known as 'suckers' . Shoots that just grow from the root system. They are useless and should be removed so the energy of the plant goes to the plant itself - rather than suckers.

My neighbor has a J Maple and it tends to be short and more like a bush than a tree. The bark has split, causing their concern, but it's still alive.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Nonametoday — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:25:56 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
If the growth you see are thin little branches - they are known as 'suckers' . Shoots that just grow from the root system. They are useless and should be removed so the energy of the plant goes to the plant itself - rather than suckers.
My neighbor has a J Maple and it tends to be short and more like a bush than a tree. The bark has split, causing their concern, but it's still alive.

@fthunt One thing very important to Japanese maples is water, water, water and perhaps the reason for the splitting is caused by drough/flood or it could be not enough protection in dead of winter. Please try to put it in a place where it is cool or watered well in summer. DO NOT allow any insecticides, pesticides or heribides in the vicinity near it unless you have checked them with your county extension agent. They are very sensitive. They are beautiful and there are many, many different kinds. Make sure you saved the tag from yours so you know its identity. They grow in different shapes. If you cut the lower branches it will grow taller and have more top growth. If you cut it at the top, it will fluff out more but not not grow much taller. It will grow as a very large bush and that may have been how yours was trained. However, if that growth is coming from beyond the dirt, it is most likely the tree is trying to give up its graft. Best thing to do is let your county agent look at it. We cannot see it and he/she can. Suckers can grow from the bottom but also the original plant that it was can be trying to take it over. I would ask the county agent about it, even if you have to take close-up pictures with its original tag in for them to see. You can always check with your state universities if you have one that specializes in agriculture.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

fthunt — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:37:38 GMT

@Nonametoday Water - I think you hit it. My neighbor might (might) put the sprinkler on once or twice during a hot cooking summer. Me - I sprinkle sprinkle. Their huge tree that demands lots of water - has also been a concern and I told lady of the house (when subject comes up) it's a water loving tree. Hasn't done any good - best to keep mouth shut.

Didn't know J Maple needed more than usual liquid. Not fond of tree/bush so never researched it.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Foxxee — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:44:30 GMT

I would need to know the variety of Japanese Maple. Some are trees with a single trunk, some with multiple trunks more like a bush, some are low growing, some are low and tall weeping.

I have a very low growing maple that when young was putting out a lot of new branches close to the ground that could have been mistaken as suckers.

Yours could be suckers, but without knowing the variety or a photo, I wouldn't want to say.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Nonametoday — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:45:33 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
I would need to know the variety of Japanese Maple. Some are trees with a single trunk, some with multiple trunks more like a bush, some are low growing, some are low and tall weeping.

I have a very low growing maple that when young was putting out a lot of new branches close to the ground that could have been mistaken as suckers.

Yours could be suckers, but without knowing the variety or a photo, I wouldn't want to say.

@Foxxee That is why I recommended she save the tag and let her county agent see if. I, too, as a master gardener, know that without seeing something or at least a very good picture, descriptions can be what we want to see.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Elom — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 23:39:23 GMT

Thank you . All it says is Japanese Red Maple on tag. I am going to trim it tomorrow. I don't want a bush.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

JustJazzmom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 00:43:03 GMT

Answering the page @Nonametoday

Okay, Japanese maples like to be in the shade of a larger tree above it. Some of them are very fine leafed & the sun can scald the leaves if in direct sun. As NameAlready said, many varieties are are sensitive to insecticides or other chemicals. Still other Japanese maples are sensitive to fungi found naturally in the soil & can die from being overwhelmed by some of them such as Phytophthora or verticillium wilt.

Try to prune the tree so it looks more like a tree. They generally aren't multi trunked. Suckers can emerge from the ground from the roots. Try to get as close to the surface & below if possible & cut them off. You can scrape the area to prevent recurrence of a sucker with the side of your clipper.

Look at pictures of Japanese maples & decide what extra limbs to prune before cutting. Take several photos & maybe bring over to Extention Service & ask their advice as to where to prune.

HTH

Re: Japanese Maple tree

wismiss — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:06:57 GMT

EvOm: Your post made me sad----I miss my Japanese maple so much. I used to live in Central Illinois and we planted a Japanese maple near the pond. It just thrived there, and was so beautiful and I enjoyed looking at it from my kitchen window. So, when I moved north to Wisconsin, I planted it up here. I watered it every day the first year with a drip hose and it got established and started to grow. Then came the winter of 2018 when we had ice before we had snow. Almost everyone around here lost their Japanese maples----this from a Master Gardener who I consulted when it didn't leaf in spring, 2019. It had to be cut down. When I look out my kitchen window now, all I see is the empty spot where it used to be. Even my neighbor misses it and has told me several times. So, now I'm looking for a replacement. I've been told that if I replant a Japanese maple I could be continually replacing it depending on the type of winter we have. I'm too far north. Boo-hoo. So, now I'm looking to see what kind I could replace it with and it's hard to find one I like as well as my Japanese maple. Hope yours does well.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Nonametoday — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:37:26 GMT

@Elom wrote:
I planted a Japanese Maple. It looks more like a bush with extra limbs coming out of base etc. Should I cut all of that off or leave it? Thanks for any help.

@Elom Just Jazz Mom is also a master gardener and she is very active. I have not participated in a few years because my DH is quite ill and I do not attend classes or keep up as I once did. I think she is also a consulting rosarian but not sure of that, but she is very knowledgable and I would take her advice any time.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Jtdmum — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:09:11 GMT

@Elom I have 3 on my property. They do require tons of water and pruning. The tree in my fron yard is at least 40 feet tall and about 50 years old. I had the tree company come and lop about 5 feet off the top 4. years ago to push the growth down into the tree and fil it in. I'll see in May how it looks and possibly do the same again.

I fertilize it professionally every 2 years and on the off year I buy tree stakes (Jobes?) to fertilize. It did branch off years ago- knowing they are very fragile I had it cabled to both help the tree and stop it from falling into the road.

If you want a low bush like tree prune from the top. If you want a tall tree prune from the bottom.

My two "transplants" from the tree in my front are getting tall. I've been babying them and one is about 20' now, the other I'm keeping low, trunk is 2-3 inches in diameter and about 5 feet wide. I havent been paying as much attention to them as the front but they're moving in the right direction.

They are my first to bud and my last trees to drop their leaves. I was out on Sunday cleaning the residual from the ground. The first snow drops their final leaves- I've noticed that on all of them up and down my street.

They are beautiful trees--do require some work, but LOTS of water, especially if you transplant the shoots-- and you will have shoots, ontop of shoots.

Also-- When you do transplant, they're deceptive-look like they're dying for a few weeks then they come back - and every few years they shoot up a couple feet in growth. You'll look at them and it kind of surprises you because they don't look l ike they're growing or doing anything for a while.

We have about 3 inches of slushy snow today so pictures won't come out - If I have a chance later this week I'll try to capture some photo's.

Good luck with your new tree!

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Lilysmom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:41:28 GMT

I love Japanese maples. I have eight around the property. Most of them are Bloodgood. I also have Crimson Lace which will grow wider than tall.

I live in zone 5 in Nova Scotia. I agree with @JustJazzmom . Japanese maples are under story trees and mine sit under the protection of huge oaks, maples and birch.

I have not treated the Japanese maples with extraordinary care other than to give them a good home with good soil and compost. I don't trim mine although Mother Nature has taken a limb or two over time.

I have seen people trim the Crimson Lace but I leave mine alone.

I agree that @Elom should consult with local horticultural experts about trimming and care, taking photos with her to show condition of the tree.

I am sitting here watching big white snowflakes cover the ground, hoping Spring arrives soon! LM

Re: Japanese Maple tree

JustJazzmom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:18:36 GMT

@Nonametoday I am still a Master Gardener, but my own property & caring for DH now takes priority. Not a Consulting Rosarian but the Committee Head is. We have learned a lot from her in regard to identifying various rose diseases. Now caring for roses is like 2nd nature.

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Lilysmom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 19:47:57 GMT

@Kachina624 , I am not a Master Gardener but I am an 'avid' gardener❤️! LM

Re: Japanese Maple tree

Elom — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:04:55 GMT

@Lilysmom @Your maples are beautiful as well as your land. Mine is deep red and today I trimmed it and it looks beautiful so fingers crossed. We will see how it survives the summer in Florida. Thank you for the response and thanks to everyone else who did.