Collection: Japanese Maples

Care tips for Japanese Maples:

Generally, Japanese maples are more cold hardy than heat tolerant. Very seldom have any died in our area because of normal winter cold temperatures. Most cold damage is caused by late freezes in spring after the trees have leafed out.
TIP 1 Maintain a thick bed 3-4 inches of mulch around the base of each tree at least the diameter of the tree canopy. This will help keep the soil cool for as long as possible in early spring. Keeping the roots cool will help to postpone early bud break and leaf emergence. As with all woody plants, though, do not allow the mulch to contact the trunk of the plant.
TIP 2 Avoid early spring feeding with fast release type fertilizers. We recommend using a controlled-release type fertilizer like Grower's Special for a slower release in cool soils. Granular fertilizers are simple to use and this formulation will provide your Japanese maples with the best proper nourishment for an entire year.
TIP 3 Avoid winter or early spring pruning. Any trimming will encourage your plants and trees to grow. This is great during warm growing months, but not in early spring when plants are on the verge of new spring growth. It is best to prune about the time of your last freeze date for your zone (April 15 in Zone 7). Also, avoid pruning Japanese maples in fall and winter because sometimes very cold winters can cause twig dieback. Wait until spring to trim or prune when you can also remove any dead twigs or stems.