Tamukeyama Japanese Maple Tree

The Tamukeyama Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Tamukeyama') is a wonderfully decorative, cold hardy, dwarf maple that is sought for its unique red foliage that holds well throughout the season. Typically found in USDA growing zones 5-8, they’re quite easy to grow as they are widely adaptable to many soil types providing the drainage is good. The dwarf mature height of 6-8 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide make it a great specimen for smaller areas where it may be difficult to plant anything. The growth cascades downward forming a dome littered with colorful foliage and in the spring is accented by small crimson flowers. As fall approaches, the foliage will take on an even deeper red hue appearance.

Planting Directions: Choose a location that will provide full to partial sun exposure for your maple.

1) The hole should be dug slightly larger than the root system of the plant, 2-3 times the width and just as deep as the root ball.
2) To help the roots establish themselves quickly, mix the soil with an organic compost (conifer bark mulch, rhododendron or azalea planting mix or rose compost) that is recommended but not necessarily needed.
3) The root collar of the plant, the ground line on the stem where the young plant was grown, should be level with the ground surface.
4) Back fill the hole and tamp down the soil as you proceed to cut back on any air pockets from forming.
5) Water the planting site and then mulch to preserve soil moisture.

Exception: If you have clay soil, dig your hole rather shallow, so that the root system is partly above the ground. When filling the hole, the soil should be mounded up to the root collar to protect the tree from drying out. (If deep holes are dug in heavy soils such as clay, the hole acts like a large iron kettle with no drainage, causing the water to build up, drowning and killing your tree.)

Mulching: Mulching helps to maintain a weed free area, minimizes water loss in dry conditions, and provides winter protection for the roots during cold frosts. The ideal mulch bed is a 2 inch layer of coarse bark.

Watering: The average amount of water supplied to most common lawn and garden plants should be adequate for your new Japanese maple tree. During the hot summer months, water your Japanese Maple in early morning or evening. This will help protect against a condition known as “scorching” where the leaves appear to have been burnt by the sun, a condition thought to be brought on by watering in the midday sun.

Fertilization: Japanese maples do not require large amounts of nutrients. If your other lawn and garden plants do well, your maple should grow just fine. Any recommended fertilization should use a balanced complete fertilizer for shrubs and trees. This should be applied once a year in early spring, and if possible be applied just before the leaves appear.

Pruning: Your tree will need 2 to 3 years to become firmly established in your lawn or garden. After this period, you may begin to prune your tree if desired, although it is not required.