Posted by Sacha on February 21, 2006, 7:42 am
On 21/2/06 0:03, in article
>> Whoa! Please tell me that the Japanese Maple is not going to go in a spot
>> that is windy? They're incredibly fussy about that and about being wet at
>> the root, too. Cold winds, in particular, are very bad news for them.
>> These are not easy plants, beautiful though they are indeed.
>
> Nope - the end of the garden is well shaded from wind so it should be OK.
> The house is a new build, so the soil isn't great - there is a very high
> clay content from what I can gather. About a fortnight ago I forked in a
> good amount of well rotted manure (from a local horse-keeper, cardboard
> based and not straw) to try and improve the soil. Should I add anything
> else before I plant the maple ?? (similarly for the creepers.. but I
> think I asked that in the reply I just wrote to another of your posts!)
Anything organic and the more manure you can get from stables etc., the
better. And well-rotted is best, yes. Whatever you plant give it plenty
of root room widthwise but don't plant it any deeper than it was in its pot.
You can judge by the mark on the stem left by the potting compost. Make
sure the roots are firmed in well when you backfill but be very wary of
stomping all over the newly infilled soil as some people are a bit heavy
footed! Firm but light is the way!
Maples like well-drained, moist but not wet, soil so you'll need to make
sure yours has a suitably prepared spot, out of the wind. Don't let it dry
out but OTOH, don't saturate it during winter especially, either. Most
Maples we see customers having trouble with are either in the ground and
desiccated by the wind or in a pot and both windblown AND drowning because
the anxious owner is worrying that it's too dry! But they're absolutely
beautiful things and you're obviously off to a roaring start in your new
obsession!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(sacha@garden506.fsnet.co.uk)
Posted by NC on February 21, 2006, 3:51 pm
> Anything organic and the more manure you can get from stables etc., the
> better. And well-rotted is best, yes. Whatever you plant give it plenty
> of root room widthwise but don't plant it any deeper than it was in its pot.
> You can judge by the mark on the stem left by the potting compost. Make
> sure the roots are firmed in well when you backfill but be very wary of
> stomping all over the newly infilled soil as some people are a bit heavy
> footed! Firm but light is the way!
> Maples like well-drained, moist but not wet, soil so you'll need to make
> sure yours has a suitably prepared spot, out of the wind. Don't let it dry
> out but OTOH, don't saturate it during winter especially, either. Most
> Maples we see customers having trouble with are either in the ground and
> desiccated by the wind or in a pot and both windblown AND drowning because
> the anxious owner is worrying that it's too dry! But they're absolutely
> beautiful things and you're obviously off to a roaring start in your new
> obsession!
Great advise - thanks again !
Posted by Janet Tweedy on February 22, 2006, 5:07 am
>Whoa! Please tell me that the Japanese Maple is not going to go in a spot
>that is windy? They're incredibly fussy about that and about being wet at
>the root, too. Cold winds, in particular, are very bad news for them.
>These are not easy plants, beautiful though they are indeed.
I've lost three to wind burn and also to too much sun! They are
temperamental in the extreme as I know someone who has one growing at
the end of the front garden on a slope in full sun and wind and that
one's fine. Maybe some species aren't so vulnerable?
Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk
Posted by Emery Davis on February 23, 2006, 5:36 am
On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:07:51 +0000
> >
> >Whoa! Please tell me that the Japanese Maple is not going to go in a spot
> >that is windy? They're incredibly fussy about that and about being wet at
> >the root, too. Cold winds, in particular, are very bad news for them.
> >These are not easy plants, beautiful though they are indeed.
>
> I've lost three to wind burn and also to too much sun! They are
> temperamental in the extreme as I know someone who has one growing at
> the end of the front garden on a slope in full sun and wind and that
> one's fine. Maybe some species aren't so vulnerable?
>
Hello Janet,
I'm don't doubt Sacha is far more experienced with these, being in
the business, but since she may have missed your post I thought I'd
jump in.
Of the hundreds of cultivars of A. palmatum there are many that
are tougher than others. Until established they are all difficult,
though, and your experience of losing 3 is by no means unique.
In general the green, unvariegated varieties (not yellowish) do
fine in full sun. There is very often a cultivar that will be more
amenable to sun and a little tougher, or smaller or whatever.
An example is using 'Eddisbury' instead of 'Sango Kaku'.
Typically the dark green leaved varieties burn less than the red,
but there are red ones that do fine in sun (and a some wind),
like Bloodgood or Chitose Yama (english or european/japanese
version).
Constant maritime wind is impossible for them, so
in very coastal areas shelter is not an option.
I grow mine in more or less exposed positions, depending on
cultivar. I live on a hill crest and it is very windy at times,
but the seem to do well enough. One thing I've found is that
they take better if the size is at least 60-80 cm. Very
small I pot up for a couple of years.
The bible of the species is "Japanese Maples" by J.D. Vertrees
updated by Peter Gregory. It's a very good reference and
well worth having. There is an appendix in the back that
lists -- by cultivar -- final size, time of interest, light requirements,
etc.
HTH
-E
--
Emery Davis
You can reply to ibmemeryamazon@ebayadelkadell.applecom
by removing the well known companies
Posted by Janet Tweedy on February 23, 2006, 6:33 am
>In general the green, unvariegated varieties (not yellowish) do
>fine in full sun. There is very often a cultivar that will be more
>amenable to sun and a little tougher, or smaller or whatever.
>An example is using 'Eddisbury' instead of 'Sango Kaku'.
>Typically the dark green leaved varieties burn less than the red,
>but there are red ones that do fine in sun (and a some wind),
>like Bloodgood or Chitose Yama (english or european/japanese
>version).
Thanks Emery I might just have another go, with potting up small
specimens in mind!
Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk
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>> that is windy? They're incredibly fussy about that and about being wet at
>> the root, too. Cold winds, in particular, are very bad news for them.
>> These are not easy plants, beautiful though they are indeed.
>
> Nope - the end of the garden is well shaded from wind so it should be OK.
> The house is a new build, so the soil isn't great - there is a very high
> clay content from what I can gather. About a fortnight ago I forked in a
> good amount of well rotted manure (from a local horse-keeper, cardboard
> based and not straw) to try and improve the soil. Should I add anything
> else before I plant the maple ?? (similarly for the creepers.. but I
> think I asked that in the reply I just wrote to another of your posts!)