Winter Care For Japanese Maple

[fred-mcd]

We planted a 4 1/2' Japanese Maple in late August and had a couple of questions on how to best prepare it for the upcoming winter:
1) Is there anythig we need to do to protect it from the first freeze besides a 3-4" layer of mulch?
2) Are tree spikes a good idea for this tree? (It's been recommended by some and not by others)
Thanks for your time.....
Tim

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

current studies that shown that "fertilizing" trees in the way we do cyclyle crops will make them more apealing to pests.

if they are in the wind, a burlap burier would not be a bad thing.

any new planting could use some mild tilling (garden fork) outside of the ball so that the roots find it easier to colonize.

 

[Garden Visions]

Japanese maple

At our nursery we do not recommend fertilizer spikes in the first planting season, but rather for trees that are established.
I certainly agree with John that a burlap screen would be most helpful. Certain varieties of J. Maple are more susceptable to winter injury. Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood' is more winter tolerant than Acer dissectum varieties.


John
Garden Visions Nursery
ISA certified Arborist, Certified Illinois Nurseryman

 

[Eric E.]

A little late on this but...WATER!!! Water aprox. every 7-14 days depending on weather, (temps, wind, rainfall), until the ground freezes. The more water stored the less wind damages. This applies for any unestablished plants as well.

Eric