Japanese Maples

[Bonsaitree]

I am in Wisconsin, right on the shore of Lake Michigan. I bought 5 Japanese Maples about 5 years ago. Tried to grow them bigger and keep them alive through our winters, wanted to make a Bonsai Group out of them. I have one left, now I have a chance to get several Japanese Maple for free. I don't want to take them, if I will just kill them again. What is the secret to the Maples wintering over. They say we are now zone 5 along the lake shore, I wonder about that. Can anybody help me, I really want to have a japanese Maple bonsai tree.

 

[nitwit dolt]

I'm a zone five here and have many Jap Maples. The only problem I have with them is winter wind. Try to plant in protected area or use antidesicant.:jester:

 

[treeseer]

HOw wer ethe roots when you bought them?

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_planting.aspx

 

[Bonsaitree]

Thanks for the info

Thank You, I am sure I will try again, but I do Question the fact that they have changed us to zone 5 after years as zone 4. Lake Michigan does change our weather, but we still get hard winters, worse yet, the last few we have had very little snow cover.

 

[Bonsaitree]

treeseer

The roots looked fine, I did manage to keep them alive for 3 years, but lost 4 last Spring, so far the last one looks OK this Spring. I tried protecting them with a cover and snow fence, and leaves. Any part of the Branch's that stuck out form the cover died back. When I lost the 4 of them, they looked like the buds were coming, but then it all stopped and they died. Thank You