The Japanese maple is a deciduous tree widely appreciated for the wide variety of colors that its foliage offers throughout the year.

The Japanese maple produces leaves very easy to identify thanks to their structure with five pointed lobes which resemble the palm of an open hand. The leaves color will vary from a light green in spring, to a darker green in summer, but is most impressive when they turn to a bright orange or red in fall.

Position

The Japanese maple should be kept outside all year round. It should be protected from cold temperatures in winter and cover it as soon as temperatures drop below 30°F. The Japanese maple loves light, but you should avoid strong direct sun, especially during summer.

Watering

The Japanese maple needs to be watered frequently, especially in summer. Do not saturate the soil but try to keep it moist at all times. In winter, the Japanese maple does not need to be watered that frequently.

Fertilizing

You should fertilize your Japanese maple twice a year: once in spring and a second time in fall before the leaves start changing color.

Repotting

Repot your Japanese maple every 2 to 3 years. The Japanese maple roots grow very quickly, so do not hesitate to trim a lot. The ideal soil mix will contain 50% akadama, 25% lava rock, and 25% pumice.

Pruning

You need to be very careful when practicing pruning on your Japanese maple. You can cut branches in spring, leaving only two pairs of leaves. In winter, you can remove any unwanted branches. Avoid cutting branches in summer as the Japanese maple will bleed, and potentially get infected by fungus through the wound created. You can practice defoliation when the leaves are growing too big, but partial defoliation is preferable as full defoliation might weaken the tree.

Wiring

The bark of the Japanese maple is very sensitive, and any tight or unsupervised wiring can leave permanent scars on the bark. It is usual practice to perform anchorage on large low branches instead of wiring on small branches.

Propagation

The Japanese maple is best propagated through cuttings. Air layering is also possible with Japanese maple. You can also try to grow it from seed, but you will have to be patient. Japanese maple seeds need to be scarified to replicate the dormancy process before being sowed. It can take a very long time for seeds to germinate.

Pests and diseases

The Japanese maple can be attacked by mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids. In warm and humid climates, it can also be covered with oidium.