In Polish conditionsJapanese maplegrows slowly and usually grows into a small tree with a loose crown. The features of the construction make it a very attractive plant, but still rarely planted in our gardens. See what the garden looks likeJapanese maple cultivationFind out whatJapanese maple varietyis worth choosing for your garden, whether you need to prune it and what to do when the tree is attackingJapanese maple disease !
Japanese maple - Acer japonicum
Japanese maple(Acer japonicum) is a small tree that can reach a height of 6 m.Japanese maple shoots are bare, reddish, glossy, and the leaves are large in outline, round with sharp, double-serrated flaps. In autumn, they turn into an intense carmine-red color. The flowers of the Japanese maple tree are quite large, up to 15 mm, purple in color, in hanging clusters, appearing simultaneously with the development of the leaves.
Japanese maple is suitable for plantingprimarily in small home gardens and estate greenery. In parks, plant it singly or in small, loose groups in front of other trees so that it is visible from a distance.
Good to knowA very similar species to the Japanese maple is the Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum), often sold under the name of the Japanese maple, but it differs from it with smaller leaves and shoots covered with whitish tarnish. It is common for amateur gardeners to confuse Japanese maples with the palm maple (Acer palmatum) and the red maple (Acer rubrum).It is therefore worth learning to distinguish between these clone species.
Japanese maple - cultivation
Japanese mapleis rarely found in home gardens, more often found in botanical gardens and arboretums, and yet it is definitely more frost-resistant than the more common palm maple.
It is trueJapanese maple has high requirements for the position , but if we provide it with a suitable place, we will be delighted with the view of this extremely interesting plant for a long time. Japanese maple prefers a sunny position to partially shaded and moist, well-drained, humus ground. The plant is tolerant to soil pH.
InJapanese maple cultivationremember to water it regularly, especially in summer, and to mulch it. The mulching treatment will protect the shallow-rooted plant from drought and possible frost in colder regions of Poland.
Japanese Maple - Trimming
Japanese maple pruningis best done in summer, when it is fully leafy and the sap does not circulate as much in the plant. This way we will avoid the leakage of large amounts of juices and the resulting shoot dieback.In the case of Japanese maple, it is enough to make a light cut. To this end, at the end of summer or at the beginning of autumn, trim the bare shoots from below and thicken and deform the crown.
Japanese maple 'Aconitifolium'
Japanese Maple - varieties
Japanese maple varietiesdiffer in height, shape of the crown, and the shape and color of the foliage. We find among them both low trees and shrubs for small gardens. The offer of Polish nurserymen includes mainly twovarieties of Japanese maple- 'Aconitifolium' and 'Aurerum'.
Japanese Maple 'Aconitifolium'- this is a slow growing variety with vividly green, decorative round leaves that turn shining orange red to deep wine red in autumn.The tree grows up to a height of 5 m and is decorative during flowering, at the turn of April and May, thanks to samaras with widely torn red wings. Japanese maple 'Aconitifolium' is a valuable resource for bees.
Japanese Maple 'Aureum'
Japanese Maple 'Aureum'- Also known as Shirasawa Maple (Acer shirasawanum) 'Aurerum', it is a very nice, slow-growing shrub with a rounded crown, perfect for small gardens. Fan-shaped leaves, seven or nine flaps, golden yellow with reddish edges. Leaves are easily sunburned, so thisJapanese maple varietyshould grow in a slightly (partially) shaded place.
Japanese maple 'Vitifolium'- has interesting, green leaves, similar in shape to grapevine leaves, turning red and yellow in autumn. It is a sprawling tree with a wide crown, growing up to 8 m in height.
Japanese maple 'Vitifolium'
Japanese maple - diseases
Japanese maple verticillus- symptoms of this dangerous disease of the Japanese maple are drying leaves in the summer. Between the veins, the leaf tissue turns yellow, then turns brown, and consequently the leaves fall. Browning of the outer rings can be observed on the cross-section of the shoot. The infection occurs through wounds on the roots. The fight against verticillus is to avoid planting maple in places where diseased plants have grown, and after noticing the first symptoms of the disease, the shoots should be removed and the infected plants should be sprayed with Topsin M 500 SC.
Japanese maple powdery mildew- the disease manifests itself on the top of the leaf blade in the form of a characteristic white powdery coating. After a dozen or so days, the raid darkens and the spores are transferred to neighboring plants.The fungus hibernates on shoots or in fallen leaves, and spores are formed in spring. This dangerous disease of the Japanese maple is favored by frequent rainfall and large differences in air humidity during the day and night. When infecting Japanese maple, spray it 3 times alternately with Discus 500 WG and Amistar 250 SC plant protection products.
Japanese maple black spot- chlorotic bright and round spots, about 1 cm in diameter, on maple leaves are the first symptoms of the serious disease of Japanese maple which is black spot. After some time, the stains turn yellow. On the upper side of the leaves, in the spot of the spots, numerous black spots appear, which from June onwards merge and cover almost the entire surface of the leaf, with a uniform shiny spot with a yellow border. When fighting the dangerous disease of the Japanese maple, it is important to remove the fallen leaves in which the fungus hibernates. In spring, when the first disease symptoms are noticed on the plant, spray two or three times every seven days, alternating between the following fungicides: Topsin M 500 SC, Bravo 500 SC or Biosept Active.
Paper blotch on Japanese maple leaves- The symptoms of paper blotch are yellowish-brown, circular patches with a lighter center that merge over time. As it grows, the tissues in the leaf crumble. Leaves become chlorotic, yellow-green in color, covering with fungus spores. The fight against this Japanese maple disease consists in removing the leaves in the fall, and after noticing the symptoms, spraying with Topsin M 500 SC.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
