Acer palmatum

General Information

• Instruction By	Julie Bawden-Davis
  Notes	Slow growing tree native to Japan and Korea. Features airy and delicate leaves that are deeply cut. Plant is deciduous and leaves change color in fall, providing visual interest. Most do best in part shade.
  Sunset Zones	1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45
  USDA Zones	1  2a  2b  3a  3b  4a  4b  5a  5b  6a  6b  7a  7b  8a  8b  9a  9b  10a  10b  11  12
  Web Link	http://articles.latimes.com/1999/may/15/home/hm-37347

Plant Care Instruction

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall

  January 1. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. 2. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. 3. Special requirements Every three years, rejuvenate potted plants at this time of year by pruning their roots back by one-third and repotting in fresh soil.

  February 1. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. 2. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. 3. Special requirements Every three years, rejuvenate potted plants at this time of year by pruning their roots back by one-third and repotting in fresh soil.

  March 1. Buy Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Plant Plant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. 3. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. 4. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. 5. Transplant Transplant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers.

  April 1. Buy Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Plant Plant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. 3. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 4. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. 5. Transplant Transplant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers.

  May 1. Buy Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Plant Plant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. 3. Fertilize Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. 4. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 5. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. 6. Transplant Transplant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers.

  June 1. Buy Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Fertilize Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. 3. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 4. Prune Prune to shape, cutting out up to 30% of new growth. 5. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  July 1. Fertilize Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. 2. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 3. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  August 1. Fertilize Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. 2. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 3. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  September 1. Buy Buy when the leaves are turning, so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 3. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  October 1. Buy Buy when the leaves are turning, so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. 3. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  November 1. Buy Buy when the leaves are turning, so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. 2. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. 3. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  December 1. Water Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. 2. Mulch Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! March Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. April Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. May Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. June Buy when leafed out so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. September Buy when the leaves are turning, so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. October Buy when the leaves are turning, so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want. November Buy when the leaves are turning, so you can choose the type and color of foliage you want.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? March Plant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. April Plant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. May Plant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers.

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? May Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. June Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. July Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10. August Feed once with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, such as a 20-10-10.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? January Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. February Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. March Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. April Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. May Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. June Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. July Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. August Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. September Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. October Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly. November Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall. December Keep Japanese maples moist at all times, but not soggy. Water regularly when there is no rainfall.

  Prune When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? June Prune to shape, cutting out up to 30% of new growth.

  Mulch Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much? January Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. February Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. March Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. April Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. May Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. June Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. July Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. August Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. September Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. October Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. November Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark. December Plant requires cool roots, so maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch out to the drip-line. Use compost, pine needles or shredded bark.

  Transplant When's the best time to dig up and transplant this from one spot to another? (This is different than planting). Any special requirements? March Transplant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. April Transplant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers. May Transplant in a part-shade location, unless the variety tolerates full sun. The plant requires well-draining, rich soil. Amend before planting with 50% soil mix made with 30% sandy loam soil; 30% planter mix and 40% peat moss. Use this same mix in containers.

  Special requirements Any other requirement for this plant? Is there anything that doesn't fit into the other care categories? January Every three years, rejuvenate potted plants at this time of year by pruning their roots back by one-third and repotting in fresh soil. February Every three years, rejuvenate potted plants at this time of year by pruning their roots back by one-third and repotting in fresh soil.