It's Alive

LeeAnn Barton

April 19, 2008 11:38 pm

— Every once in a while I see a tree that is indeed beautiful. More than a mere specimen, certain trees have grown (or been coaxed to grow) into living works of art. I had the pleasure of enjoying just such a Japanese maple this week.
Entering the Stillwater Public Library through doors on the west rather than the main southwest entrance brought me into a lobby type passage that led to a second floor. Through the doors on the east, I could hardly miss the brilliant red, spring growth of a large Japanese maple. Planted in this north facing alcove, the maple (I think it is an Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’) gracefully rose 15 feet in the air, the wispy branches dancing gently in the breeze.
Japanese maples are a good choice for a small tree planted in close proximity to a home or building, but there are a few simple planting guidelines to facilitate the beauty inherent to these trees.
Be sure the planting site drains sufficiently after a rain. Increase drainage in the soil by digging in sand and pecan hulls. Japanese maples like regular moisture, but not continually wet roots.
Avoid summer winds. Dry, hot wind burns the edges of the maple leaves. Although the brown edges will not kill the tree, it does add stress to the tree’s health and maybe your own. Nothing looks worse than a seared specimen plant.
Gather a little knowledge regarding the variety of Japanese maple to plant. Sun tolerance, heights and forms in this species of tree are as varied as the leaf shapes and sizes. Weeping or cascading varieties have more rigid branching, requiring staking to achieve the desired height. Plan for the cascading types to get wide.
Pruning a Japanese maple is not difficult. Basic limb removal can be done once a year by simply thinning young limbs to open the canopy. Look at the branch positions; remove any weak or crisscrossed branches. Allow the final branch pattern to be well-defined and you will be on your way to a work of art that is attractive in leaf or out of leaf.
LeeAnn Barton can be e-mailed at .