Pascale’s Garden

How to Grow Japanese maple Trees from Seed

The most easy and less expensive way to get the seeds of the Japanese maple tree requires the patience until the autumn. These seeds can be easily collected from the nursery, the reason behind waiting until the fall is that it is the best time to yield the seeds from the tree. The most prominent indication that the seeds are ready for the use is their change in the color, as they tend to get the brown color at that stage. It is customary for the blazing trees to have seeds enclosed inside a hard shell. There is a downside in growing the maple trees from the seeds instead of grafting, it can take quite a longer time to complete the whole process and will require from you the severe patience.

Things really get well when the outer cover of the seed becomes soft, from this point the waiting period dramatically reduces. So, how to make the cover just a little softer? Well, the usual process is to bury the seed in the ground so that it may pass one winter and the winter becomes responsible for the softening of the outer cover.

This whole process can be completed without burying the seed into the soil. Our ultimate goal is to make the outer cover a little softer so that it can break away and the seed may proceed for the next stage. The process that happens below the surface can be replicated over the surface as well through some simple but accurately done steps. This will reduce the time from one year to only 3 months which by any standard is a giant leap. The process starts almost three month before the actual plantation of the seeds. You have to simulate the same conditions that the seed face under the surface but in a quick go.

Take a flask that can afford to keep the water hot for some time, pour some hot water into the flask, then put some seeds in it. You will notice that the seeds have not sunk down to the bottom and this indicates that the seeds are usable. Now leave the seeds in such condition for nearly a complete day. Eventually the water will lose the heat, and you will take out the seeds. This step generally involves little trouble, next you have to place them into a bag, which will have sand and all the natural elements of the soil.

Make some holes through the bag for the flow of air and now place the bag in a cold place, which most probably will be a fridge or something. You have to wait for three months so that the outer cover of these seeds may get softer. And now the seeds are ready to be planted in the normal soil. If everything goes well then you can bypass the waiting period of complete one year.

Now it is time to place the seeds into the soil, you are not required to dig down deep for this process. You only need to put them on top of the soil. After that the only thing that you need to remember is the watering schedule. Firstly you have to water them very well, and then you have to wait for the water to completely dry out before going out for another try. Remember this is the initial stage, and any negligence can result in the bleak chances of any growth.

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Fertilizing the Japanese maple trees

The Japanese maples do not require additional fertilization if the soil is already known to be fertile. Fertilization of soil is a vital element in the overall growth of the maple tree and the experts describe the need of fertile soil as essential. The vibrancy in the color of leaves depend on two important factors; the appropriate sunlight and the fertility of the soil. So to fully appreciate the colors and bloom of these trees it is essential to take in account the proper analysis of the fertility of soil.

If the soil is known to be less fertile then appropriate fertilization for the Japanese maple tree becomes indispensable. The newly planted maple trees require fertilizers for the ideal growth and establishment of the root system. It is generally a well known fact that the best fertilizer to be used at this stage is the one that contains fine amount of phosphorous. The first four month require suitable quantity of this fertilizer so that the plant can have strong roots which will bring the strong grip of soil, this is essentially required for the sustenance of the young maple tree.

Often it is assumed that if a land is known to have fertility then it will maintain this quality over an indefinite period of time. This is not accurate scientifically. Fertility is not a constant state and a land can lose some of it and even can gain it through natural means. The expert gardeners recommend checking the level of fertilization in the ground on yearly basis. If you notice that the trees are losing their vibrant colors that earlier they used to have then it is a good reason for the inspection of soil.

The tall trees can grow exceptionally if they are provided with the recommended amount of fertilizers after couple of years. The small trees and shrubs on the other hand require this attention yearly. If you are unsure about the exact nature of the soil, then tests are conducted to check the exact level of the required elements. It is a good practice to go for such tests as they will bring a clear picture of the problem.

Sometimes the soil is lacking only a specific nutrient and other elements are present in it abundantly, so in this case adding a general fertilizer will not be a feasible solution. It will remove the deficiency of that specific nutrient but eventually it is going to overdose the soil with other nutrients. This is the sole reason behind testing the soil, as it will bring about the exact nutrient that needs to be added in the soil. The general and specific fertilizers are available in the market easily but before buying you should be clear about your choice.
It should be clear enough that fertilizers are only used as a supplementary item and the plant should not rely solely on them.

The amount of fertilization varies for the new trees and the adult trees. These recommended amounts can be confirmed from an expert gardener as they can tell any necessary precaution for a particular Japanese maple tree. One thing should be kept in mind that adding fertilization in the spring is not a good idea as it will enforce the quick growth of the leaves which in the long term will weaken the plant. In the spring season the plant should be allowed to grow on its natural resources and no artificial element is required at this stage. Fertilizers should be added in the seasons which are not known for any growth.

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Watering the Japanese maple trees

Japanese maple trees and shrubs are known for their constant need of moisturizing. This need becomes an essential item of life in the regions where climate is known for its ruthless warmth. Firstly the root system faces the consequences as it needs the moisturizing to transport the water to all parts of the plant. The leaves and bark are dependent on the root system, and they too get affected if the roots do not get the appropriate supply of water. In most cases, the leaves will lose the vibrant colors for which they are famous. In the varieties which loose all the leaves in particular season so in this case bark plays an important role in the ornamentation. Bark too looses colors if the plant is not properly watered. Watering the plant regularly is a good way to resolve this issue.

When you are about to plant the Japanese maple tree, then at that moment the soil can be moisturized through making a water loop around the plant. This is the compressed soil which is used to make a circle around the newly placed plant. It amazingly facilitates the water to travel in a circular fashion. It is a well known fact that the powerful roots are important for a plant to sustain. This technique persuades the water to move around the borders and in this way new roots spring out from the already existing roots around the circle, which consequently makes the root system more powerful. The height of the heap depends on the dimensions of the maple tree and can vary from plant to plant. Furthermore wood chips, leaves, and stone spread on the surface of the soil can amazingly protect the soil and plant roots from many aspects including raindrops, freezing, and helps plant to retain moisturizing. This technique is known for its usefulness in the early days of the plant and effects the overall growth of the tree, but it can be replaced by some other techniques after the plant reaches its maturity.

Water drainage is as important as the moisturizing of the Japanese maple tree. Too much water can make the roots week enough to carry out all the operations effectively. The amount of water required by each tree is different from other and mainly depends on the size of the tree. The dwarf maple tree and shrubs may not tolerate the excessive supply of water. These plants are mostly planted in trays and pots and the drainage system can be made effective through some simple steps. When you are about to place the plant into the pot, put some rubles at the foundation of the pot, and cover them with a coating of soil, this will ensure the appropriate drainage of the excessive water. This method is in use for quite some time and expert gardeners have fully developed their trust on its effectiveness. The appropriate limit of watering the plant can easily be known at the time of purchase.

If you are planning to grow the Japanese maple tree on a commercial level and you are interested in making huge profits then these steps will help you to achieve greater growth of the plants even if there are hundreds of them under your supervision. Watering a large number of plants is not so different from the individual watering techniques but the only thing you need to keep in mind is that the water should be equally distributed among all the plants. If this is not ensured then the plant will try to get the water from the neighboring plant through the expansion of its roots, which will affect the growth of both plants. In the long run it is going to cause more trouble, as root systems of plants will intermingle with each other which will start a competition between these trees. Moreover the roots can easily transfer disease from one plant to the other, so such situations should be avoided at any rate and it doesn?t really demand too much time from the gardeners to reduce the chances of such occurrence.

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Three most sturdy Japanese maple trees

Ornatum Japanese maples

This reliable and old variety of Japanese maples was originated in European countries. It carries with itself a very good and authentic record of good behaviour. The mushroom shape is surely not the best as compared to other varieties of its family but it does create an impact when placed in a suitable site. It can take a height of ten feet when fully grown. The dominating colour in its life is orange which turns into red in the fall. The leaves are of intervened structure consequently it can take many different shapes but it usually remains leafless during the winter.

Moreover the size of the leaves varies between 2 to 5 inches and the lobes can reach to 7 in numbers. Interestingly it carries a fruit which should be collected before the season of autumn. The dissected leaves demand some protection from hot winds, a shading of any kind can solve this problem. In the western countries it doesn?t demand any special care as the climate is not hot in these regions. Some bacterial attacks are known which generally occur in the wet climate and can easily be overcome with a proper arrangement of air flow.

Osakazuki Japanese maples

It is an authentic and old variety in the Japanese maples which dates back to 19th century. It is a well known breed amongst the gardeners due to its good behaviour and equally popular in the public for its magical crimson colours that it bears in the autumn. It gains good height and width and culminates to 18 feet in height. The usual number of lobes in the leaves is 7. And the leaf is in proportion to the height as they stretch up to 4 inches. In the spring season when the new leaves emerge abundantly they are usually of green colour and by the time they reach to the summer transform into more dark colours. And before falling off in the autumn they reach to the peak in the form of vivid red colour.

In autumn it seems the whole garden is centred towards this amazing plant. And in the same season a fruit known as Samara can be ripen which is of very small size. The tree is sturdier than any other known family member of maple tree and for this reason it can bear the sunlight to much extant. And the same is true for any bacterial attack, which generally is a threat to all the Japanese maples.

Sango kaku Japanese maples

It is a highly celebrated variety in the upright collection of Japanese maples. The Japanese name is often translated as coral-painted, which is truly justified as it takes an amazing colour on the bark when the leaves are completely shed, and for this reason it is not only famous for the colours of leaves but is equally known for the colours of twigs. The barks as the name suggest turns into astonishing coral red colour. It is by any definition a full fledged tree as it can take an amazing height of 25 feet. The new emergence of leave happens in the April and they appear in the exciting yellow green colour. As the seasons pass by they take the dominant colour of their life that happens to be light green.

The leaves are of even shapes, and no great variation is visible from a distance. It is known to be a sturdy tree which is a quality that is quite rare in the Japanese maples and this can be appreciated as it can be planted in diverse types of soils. The only known problem with this tree is its higher rate of catching a bacterial attack which can be reduced if proper site is chosen, which should have the appropriate flow of air. The sturdiness is a quality that is mostly appreciated by the experts as they know the advantages this quality brings. People who are interested in the Japanese maple trees should know these advantages before making any decision so that they can have best return for their investments.

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