and grow up … Here's how to plant them. Sometimes trees are planted too close to the house foundation, or they cast too much shade on your garden. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Excess water around the roots can and will kill a beautiful Japanese maple. A rule of thumb is if the trunk is 2" in diameter, dig at least 9" from the truck all around. This thread is archived. Reply. Japanese maples, especially young trees, have some sensitivity to extreme heat and sunlight. Japanese Maples are best transplanted when they're dormant, which means fall. 2. Figs are a delicious and healthful fruit, and the trees are easy to grow. First off, I don’t recommend and I am not endorsing that you should kill your neighbor’s tree. This is a huge root ball and probably not anything a home owner without heavy equipment would be able to tackle. I like this time because it give the tree the shortest time with a compromised root system before the soil starts to warm up and allow new roots to grow. Albert Terpak Maple roots are meant to be at and slightly above the surface of the soil. If you’re the proud owner of a Japanese maple, then you know that their branch structure is quite intricate. It's also best to avoid spots that are exposed to heavy winds. Remove the burlap and place in the new planting hole. The part between the root tip and the trunk of the tree is more for structural support and does little to keep the plant nourished. Of course, this is part of what makes them so appealing, flowing harmoniously without needing too much assistance. Just use good topsoil and raise the bed a bit so the Japanese maple can’t possibly get too wet in that area. Cut down the tree, but leave the stump at least 3 or 4 feet tall. You don’t need transplanting liquid. Most trees will move well, assuming proper time is allotted to correctly fertilize, root prune, dig the properly sized root ball and water before and after transplanting. When digging up the tree, be careful of the roots. We are looking to have a Japanese Maple moved, that was planted right next to our walkway and porch, which it now is growing over it making it "difficult" to walk by and rendering the porch useless. Nothing short of an errant lawnmower will kill a Japanese maple more quickly than overwatering. Gardeners with limited space can plant dwarf varieties or grow the trees in containers to move around for portable color. The tree transplant has the best chance of success if you act during these periods. The size of the tree is most important, not to whether or not the tree will survive a transplant, but what size of a root ball must be dug, picked up, transported and replanted. Tomatoes are popular garden additions because they are delicious, nutritious and so easy to grow. Discover Japanese maples . That coincided with the arrival of a January “polar vortex” – the fashionable term for a blast of sudden and brutal cold from the North. I wrote off that trouble as an isolated winter-weather killing event. This Japanese Maple was planted in the wrong place — right next to the front door, so it blocks some of the architectural features of the house. Neighbor is a buddhist who doesn't want to kill anything. If a tree is planted correctly it will grow twice as fast and live at least twice as long as one that is incorrectly planted. Only transplant mature trees after the leaves fall in autumn or before bud break in spring. This is a huge root ball and probably not anything a home owner without heavy equipment would be able to tackle. 8 comments. That is why I moved to planting long lived species like Oak, Hickory, Black Walnut, DED resistant Elm cultivates, and yes American Ash which will become extinct with it's 600 yr indigenous lifespan. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is a sturdy little ornamental tree, popular for its graceful shape, deep fall color and delicate, lace-like leaves. We've got a japanese maple where we just moved, it's been there for years since the previous owner died and the garden's overgrown/neglected. Even Sugar Maple with it's 300 yr lifespan only makes it 100 years on a parkway because of salt and compacted soil. If that is not possible then move them into a shaded and cool position. Over-exposure to sun can result in brown leaves, a phenomenon also known as "leaf scorch." Examine the tree. Fertilizer. The good news is aphids or scales likely won’t kill a Japanese maple, but they will put up quite the fight, turning leaves brown and causing them to fall early in the process. Japanese maples are pretty tough trees, but not immune to pest problems. But with proper instruction, novice gardeners can replant most smaller trees. But I'm still not sure, I think I'll have to get a book on it. 1. Of course, the size and age of your tree, and the type you have determines how you should prune them. It was in a pot then i moved it to the front garden but it was to dry and windy. Successfully transplanting a Japanese maple trees is based on a several factors. Generally speaking a tree with a trunk caliper of less than 1 inch (about the size of a broom handle) could be moved with a 12-18 inch root ball. Look for leaves or branches that look like they just don’t belong. Maple roots are meant to be at and slightly above the surface of the soil. I have a tree large on the property line next to my garden I would like to kill. Small and slow growing with a graceful habit and beautiful foliage, they're the perfect choice for even the tiniest of gardens. so now I moved it to the back in a shaded area that is fed by the gutter when it rains. share. The Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum) can have colorful red or bronze foliage even in the spring and summer. 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