Growing and propagating Japanese maple at home. Exquisite Japanese bonsai: maple in miniature

Kingdom: Plants
Department: Flowering
Class: Dicotyledons
Order: Sapindaceae
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Maple
View: Japanese maple - Acerjaponicum Thunb.

A brief description of.

Maple Japanese - deciduous tree 7-10 m tall, with an openwork crown, dark red annual shoots and almost round 7-11-lobed leaves. Blooms in June.

Spreading.

Japanese maple is a very rare species; in Russia it is known only from two locations in the south of Kunashir Island, South Kuril region, Sakhalin region. Found scattered along the stream. Border and in the district of the river. Dark, tending towards the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, warmer and sunny side islands (1, 2). The main part of its range is located in Japan (Hokkaido and Honshu islands), where the species occurs both in natural conditions and is widely cultivated (3).

Features of ecology and phytocenology.

Japanese maple grows in mixed forests on mountain slopes, often as single small trees.

Number.

The approximate population size is about a dozen individuals. State of local populations. The population is extremely small. Seed regeneration was not observed on Kunashir Island, however, in October 1999, one fruiting plant was discovered.

Limiting factors

.

A small number of individuals in a population. Lack of seed regeneration (4). Taken measures security Was included in (1988). The species is listed in the Red Book of the Sakhalin Region. (2005). Protected in the Kurilsky Nature Reserve.

Necessary security measures.

Search for new locations of the species and counting the size of the island population. Monitoring the state of the species population. Cultivation possibilities. Cultivated in botanical gardens of Russia: Moscow (GBS RAS, MGUDSHA), Samara, St. Petersburg (GLTA), Selivanovo (b). Due to its decorative properties (large purple flowers and beautiful foliage), it deserves wider introduction into green building (4), including in the south of the Russian Far East.

Information sources. Red Book Russian Federation. 1. Alekseeva, 1983; 2. Data from N.A. Eremenko; 3. Nedoluzhko, 1987; 4. Kharkevich, 1988; 5. Barkalov, Eremenko, 2003; b. Plants of the Red Book..., 2005. Compiled by: V.Yu. Barkalov, N.A. Eremenko. Red Book of the Russian Federation (and mushrooms)

if you love unusual trees and want to see them in your garden, consider Japanese red maple as one of the options. The high decorative value of this crop is undeniable, especially in autumn, when the carved leaves acquire a fiery red color. Compact trees are grown like tapeworms, because their crown looks truly luxurious. Japanese red maple can decorate any corner of the garden, terrace, or greenhouse, because these trees, due to their compact size, can be grown in large portable tubs. We invite you to get acquainted with this culture right now. We will give you a story about caring for red maple and planting it in our conditions.

Features of Japanese maple

If you decide to grow Japanese maple in your garden, you should know what some of the features of this culture are. Firstly, a tree growing in natural conditions in Japan and Korea, loves warmth. In winter, it can withstand temperatures of at least 20 degrees below zero. This means that growing difficulties may arise if you live in middle lane, where in winter the thermometer sometimes drops below -25-28 degrees. In this regard, it is worth thinking about how exactly you will grow Japanese maple - in a tub, which can be moved to a cool room for the winter, or in the garden, where you will have to take care of covering the tree for the winter?

The second requirement for successful cultivation of a crop is fertile soil. If the soil on your site is poor, you will have to artificially enrich it both before planting and later. Japanese red maple needs an abundance of nutrients. Perhaps these are two requirements that need to be taken into account if you want to plant this luxurious tree. We will consider the remaining features of planting and care further.

This is a red maple (photo)


Planting red maple

So where do you start when planting a Japanese red maple? Of course, with the purchase of a seedling. It is best to purchase it from nurseries. It is advisable that the seedling be in a container with soil, then its roots will not be damaged during transportation and transplantation.

On the site, find a place located where there is most sunlight. It is desirable that it be protected from the wind as much as possible, and that no other trees or shrubs grow nearby, within a radius of 2-3 meters.

As already mentioned, you need to prepare suitable soil for planting Japanese maple. To do this, dig a hole, the size of which in all respects is twice the size of the root system of the purchased seedling. The soil must be breathable, nutritious, slightly acidic or neutral. Thoroughly mix the soil from the hole with compost and peat, and if necessary, if it is clayey, add sand. Pour a third of the soil mixture into the hole.

Carefully remove the seedling along with a lump of earth from the container and place it in the hole. “Popular about health” draws attention to the fact that you should not push a young maple into the ground more than necessary. Place the seedling at the same level at which it grew in the container. Cover it up soil mixture, trying to fill all the voids. Use your hands to compact the soil well, forming a circle around the trunk. Water it, maybe even in two stages, so that the substrate sinks a little along with the water. Immediately mulch the soil surface with peat. Now it will be useful for readers to learn about the features of caring for Japanese red maple.

More photos of red maple


How to Care for Japanese Red Maple?

This culture does not require special attention. The tree needs watering in dry times, and it is advisable to spray young seedlings warm water, but not at noon, but better evening when the sun is not so aggressive. Fertilizing is very important for Japanese red maple. In the spring, when the snow has completely melted and the soil has warmed up a little, the tree trunk circle is sprinkled with granular mineral fertilizers, after which watering is carried out and the soil around the tree trunk is loosened.

Mulching with peat and humus will not only help protect the roots from unfavorable conditions, but will also feed long acting. In the middle zone, trees, especially young ones, need to be protected from the winter cold. You can use, for example, garden fleece, which has a soft structure and retains heat well. In areas where the frosts in winter are not so severe, down to -18 degrees, the tree does not need shelter, but snowfall can pose a threat to the crown. It is advisable to clear snow build-ups from branches after heavy snow falls.

The most dangerous are thaws with rain, alternating with frosts. In such conditions, the crown becomes overgrown with ice, which means there is a risk that the branches will not withstand the load and will break. This crop does not need pruning, unless it makes sense to cut off shoots that have suffered from frost in winter. The crown of the Japanese red maple is forming naturally, and the tree acquires a unique and refined silhouette over time.

As you can see, there is nothing special or complicated about caring for and planting Japanese maple. The main thing is to provide it with a nutritious environment and protect it from the cold in winter. If you grow this tree in a tub, then simply move it to a cool room for the winter. The rest of the gardener’s actions are standard - watering, loosening trunk circle, soil mulching and fertilizing in spring and autumn.

This graceful tiny tree with the mysterious name bonsai, the translation of which sounds like “grown on a tray,” evokes amazement and delight among viewers. Unusual view art originated in China at the end of the 8th century. Miniature plants served as the main decoration of the emperor's palace and garden.

The art of bonsai developed, new forms and styles appeared, people learned to create miniatures with different structure crowns and trunks, from different plants: deciduous and coniferous, flowering and fruiting trees. Standing apart from the row of deciduous trees is the maple bonsai, which changes the color of its leaves as the season changes.

The developed varieties of maple with leaf colors such as blue, indigo, red, and violet have increased the possibilities of the authors' flight of imagination when creating colorful miniature plants, capable of reviving and giving a unique charm to any interior.

Growing a blue maple bonsai at home from seeds is not easy; it takes time and hard work. But the result will recoup the costs and reward you with the contemplation of a miracle created by your own hands.

What seeds to use

Selecting quality seeds is of paramount importance. To grow blue maple bonsai, seeds from specially bred plants are used. They can be bought in specialized stores or ordered online in China.

Seed preparation

For normal seed germination, it is necessary to prepare them by subjecting them to stratification. This tree naturally drops its seeds in the fall, and they undergo natural stratification. Its time for maple seeds is 120 days.

At home, people use cold, warm and combined stratification methods. Cold - the seeds need it for ripening. The seeds are placed in warm water to soak and then placed in the refrigerator. In this way, natural temperature differences are simulated.

Warm - used to “awaken” seeds. The seed is kept for several days in damp cloth or other moist substrate at a temperature of 30–35°C. For maple seeds, a combined stratification is used, in which the seeds are left in a cold room and placed in warm water before sowing. Then they are disinfected with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate to prevent fungal formations. The disinfection process takes 10–15 minutes.

Soil and container

To grow Japanese maple from seeds, you need to prepare the soil and choose the right container.

For cultivation, a nutrient substrate is used, which is called akagama (in nature, such soil is found in one of the Japanese prefectures). The bonsai substrate should:

  • retains moisture well;
  • be loose so as not to impede the access of oxygen to protect against soil acidification and root rotting;
  • contain sufficient nutrients.

It is prepared by mixing humus, alumina and sand in a 1:1:1 ratio. Second option would be better suited for deciduous trees, which include blue maple: turf soil and sand in a ratio of 7:3.

  1. The sand used is coarse-grained river sand.
  2. The soil for cleaning is passed through a large sieve.
  3. The prepared mixture should be disinfected by heat treatment, heating in a frying pan or in a water bath. An alternative to this is to freeze the substrate and then thaw it, which will also ensure disinfection. Then the substrate must be dried and sifted through a sieve again.
    To disinfect soil, use purchased biologically active preparations “Fitosporin”, “Barrier”, treatment soil mixture which will destroy insect eggs and fungal spores.
  4. After the disinfection procedure, fertilizers are added. To plant seeds, use a wide container of small depth (up to 5 cm) with mandatory presence drainage holes.
  5. The container must be thoroughly washed with a product containing non-aggressive ingredients. Scald with boiling water, destroying possible availability fungal and bacterial spores. Let dry thoroughly.

Seed planting technology

To plant, a fine mesh is placed at the bottom of the prepared container so that dry soil does not spill out through drainage holes. A substrate with large particles is poured onto the mesh, and then a layer with more fine soil so that there is 3 cm left to the top edge of the container.

  1. Seeds are laid out on the surface; if there are a lot of them, a distance of 1 cm is maintained between them.
  2. Then each seed is pressed down with a rounded wooden plank and sprinkled with a small layer of sand or earth. Upper layer also compacted.
  3. The soil needs to be moistened, the container covered with glass or film until shoots emerge and placed in a dark place.
  4. Needs constant support wet state soil and optimal temperature no higher than 15°C.
  5. When sprouts begin to appear, the glass is slightly shifted and holes are cut in the film for access. fresh air.

Location

The seedling grows poorly and gets sick:

  • when exposed to direct sunlight;
  • in drafts;
  • under dense shadow.

Does not tolerate large temperature changes. All this should be taken into account when choosing a location for installing containers. As it grows, the plant is gradually accustomed to sunlight, which makes it possible to obtain smaller, brightly colored leaves.

Rules of care

The container with the sprouts is transferred to a bright place, removing the glass, and placed out of direct sunlight. The best option- partial shade. The soil is periodically watered and fertilized once a month in small portions. When the seedlings get stronger and grow up to 10 cm, they are planted in separate containers - bonsai pots (usually ceramic). The shape and size of the bonsai tree depend on the desired shape of the crown of the future tree. Suitable vessels are oval, rectangular, round shape, in the form of a polyhedron. It all depends on the chosen bonsai style:

  • cascade type of crown - high narrow pot;
  • inclined crown - stable, wide;
  • dense crown - flat, wide;
  • the crown is of considerable height - not wide and deep.

The main requirement for the container in which the tree will grow is good stability. The color of the container is chosen to be calm and dim, this will emphasize the sophistication and beauty of the plant. You have to constantly take care of the maple. Strong humidity at low temperatures and poor flow of fresh air will lead to fungal infections. You should be very careful about watering. The small volume of the bonsai pot leads to distortion of the shape of the roots, which reduces the effectiveness of watering. When growing bonsai, watering is used by irrigation (from a special kettle) or immersion (the bowl is placed in a container of water for a short time). For watering it is advisable to use rainwater or tap water that has stood for two days.

Without proper and timely care and watering, the roots quickly die and the entire plant dies.

The second condition for successfully growing bonsai is feeding, especially when the crown is forming. Once every twenty days, fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus are applied. Nitrogen is needed for the growth of leaves and branches. Potassium fights harmful microorganisms. Phosphorus promotes the formation of buds, the development of the root system, and acts as protection against infections. Maple requires iron; this should not be forgotten when preparing nutrient soil. A mandatory additive is a clay substrate for bonsai, which strengthens the root system. Indoor bonsai are fertilized throughout the year.

Formation of a tree

At the age of 2–3 months, seedlings begin to form, shortening the central root by two-thirds. It is recommended to prune the young plant throughout the year, choosing certain branches and parts of the crown. Small branches and emerging shoots are cut off all year round, regardless of the season. Ripe, thicker branches are pruned in the fall, when the growth rate of the tree decreases.

Spring pruning is not done due to vigorous sap flow. Before winter, the shoot is cut to the nearest branch. All sections must be processed to avoid fungal infections. Only in the fourth year are the branches cut in accordance with the chosen crown shape. Every year the maple is replanted, replacing the container and substrate, and at the same time the roots are pruned, removing damaged ones and forming a root system.

For blue maple, transplantation is done in the spring during the period of active growth.

We hope the information presented will help those wishing to grow Japanese maple from seeds at home, creating a wonderful miniature copy. The task will be greatly facilitated by following the rules and advice on how to plant maple bonsai, care for the plant, feed it, shape the crown and trunk of the intended shape.

Many gardeners prefer to grow on their plot not only healthy vegetables and tasty fruits, but also ornamental plants that decorate their gardens. garden landscape. These plants include the exotic Japanese maple - a wonderful representative of the botanical world, with a bright spreading crown.

Wood attracts with its original appearance However, the question arises - will this exotic beauty be difficult to care for? To dispel doubts, in this article we will talk about the features of growing Japanese maple in our climate: we will find out how to plant the plant and how to care for it.

Description and features

Japanese maple is an ornamental tree originally from Japan. Today about 100 of them are known various types and varieties: such a rare variety allows you to choose the most suitable variety and leaf coloring for any landscape design.

Japanese maple

The height of the Japanese maple can be from two to ten meters, and has a characteristic bright color of foliage. Leaf colors can be as follows:

  • green;
  • red;
  • yellow;
  • pink

Other, rarer shades of color are also possible: it depends on the plant variety.

The shape of the plant is interesting and unusual: the Japanese maple has a lush, spreading, wide crown, somewhat reminiscent of a palm tree. This perfect plant for autumn: with its wonderful variety of bright foliage, it can dispel any blues, lift your spirits, and inspire creativity.

In the northern regions, unfortunately, street growing of Japanese maple is very difficult: only if you place the plant in a large tub, which can be put away in a house or barn for the winter.

Varieties

Today, the following varieties of Japanese maple are the most decorative and popular.

Shirasawa

This is a low variety of tree: it reaches a height of only one and a half meters. It has decorative wide leaves, a beautiful and bright orange-yellow hue.

Shirasawa

Bloodgood

This is a truly unique variety, because the tree has in this case leaves are inky black.

Beni Kava

This variety of Japanese maple has original bright red foliage and ruby-colored bark. Can you imagine how decorative look has a plant.

Beni Kava

Katsura

An interesting variety that has double-colored leaves: in summer they are green, and by autumn they change color to golden.

How to plant

Although the procedure for planting a Japanese maple seedling is simple, it does, however, require knowledge of some nuances. Let's talk about these nuances in more detail.

To plant a plant correctly, you need to prepare in advance:

  • the seedling itself: healthy and strong;
  • compost and peat for fertilizer.

First, you should dig a hole: its parameters should be approximately twice the span of the plant’s roots. If the seedling was purchased in a pot, then it must be carefully removed from this container. Unravel the roots of the plant: also very carefully, without tugging.

Add peat and compost to the prepared hole. Place the seedling in the hole, sprinkle soil on top, and tamp it down.

In the video - planting a Japanese maple:

Around the seedling, form small sides of soil along the diameter of the root circle. This will make it easier to water the plant, as the water will not be able to drain.

Immediately after planting, water the seedling so that the roots take root faster. If the summer turns out to be very hot, the seedling will need to be watered more often and more abundantly.

Next spring, it is necessary to lay a mulch layer of soil mixed with rotten fallen leaves over the root circle of the plant. This layer will help moisture stay longer in the root circle and also protect the ground around the seedling from weeds.

What kinds of hedge plants there are and what they look like will help you understand this information:

How to do hedge from willow with your own hands, the photo will help you understand

Selection of location and conditions

If you have chosen a palmate plant for planting, then it needs to be prepared shady place. All other types of Japanese maple prefer full sun. But, although many of the varieties tolerate direct sunlight, this does not apply to those that have double-colored leaves: in this case, the plant requires only shade or partial shade. By the way, Japanese maple is not afraid of winds and drafts, so this parameter is not important here.

As for the soil, it should be well-drained and light. The plant prefers fertile, humus-rich soil that is slightly acidic.. It is important that root system the plants received moisture without obstacles and in sufficient quantities. Otherwise, the leaves of the Japanese maple may turn brown from lack of water.

The plant does not tolerate lime, so the area should not be treated with this substance. If the root system of the plant comes into contact with lime, this may cause the maple leaves to begin to fall off.

It is important to know that these plants are quite heat-loving, and the harsh climate of the Russian north is unlikely to suit them. However, experienced gardeners They carefully cover the tree for the winter, thanks to which they are able to grow Japanese maple even in cold winter conditions.

Mulching

Mulching is of great importance for a tree: this procedure must be carried out both in spring and autumn. Use humus, tree bark, wood chips, and compost as mulch. The procedure helps the tree roots to have constant access to moisture, protects the roots from freezing in winter, and is also an additional feeding and protection against weeds.

Trimming

In the first years of its life, the plant must be pruned regularly to form a crown. And then you can no longer trim, but only remove diseased and broken branches.

Top dressing

In spring, under the tree it is necessary to apply granulated mineral fertilizers, and only then cover this fertilizing with a mulch layer. Keep in mind that the mineral complex should not contain nitrogenous components, since they are not suitable for Japanese maple.

If the soil is fertile enough, then one feeding will be enough for a year. If it is scanty, then it is necessary to feed the tree again in the summer. But you can feed the plant only until August. Then the application of any fertilizers must be stopped, as the maple needs to begin to prepare for wintering.

Winter care

If the climate in your area is not mild, be sure to cover the Japanese maple for the winter. It is recommended to choose garden fleece as a covering material, as it is the warmest and soft material. If there is a lot of snow in winter, then regularly free the maple branches from this heavy precipitation.

Otherwise, the branches may not be able to withstand it and break. However, you should not touch the tree when the branches are covered with an ice crust after a thaw: in this case they are especially easy to break.

Japanese maple at home

It is possible to grow this wonderful plant and at home: in this case it is selected dwarf variety maple. The Japanese believe that the presence of this plant has a positive effect on the energy of the apartment: it brings peace, happiness, peace and prosperity.

In addition to this scientifically unconfirmed belief, scientists have already proven that Japanese maple is capable of purifying the air in an apartment, and this has a beneficial effect on the microclimate of the home. In addition, the delightful flowering of the plant will delight you from spring until late autumn.

In the video - Japanese maple in the house:

At home growing For Japanese maple, protecting the plant from pests becomes especially important, since in this case the tree grows more tender.

Reproduction

Japanese maple is usually propagated by seeds. You need to collect seeds in the fall, ideally in October. In order to properly prepare the seeds for subsequent planting, they must be stratified. collected for this purpose planting material placed in a dry sandy mixture and stored all winter in a cool place. In the spring, they are sown in a container, having previously been treated with a growth stimulator.

During the first summer, the seedlings do not stretch too much, but even at this stage it is possible to sort them, leaving them for further cultivation only the strongest and tallest specimens.

It is best for seedlings grown from seeds to spend their first winter indoors, still in their container. The next spring (the second spring in the plant’s life), the seedlings must be transplanted into pots of suitable size (separate for each specimen), and then, having grown a little more, transplanted into open ground.

If the climate or other reasons do not allow transplanting into the ground, make sure that the soil in the tub is rich in organic matter.

Application in garden design

The decorative nature of Japanese maple allows it to be used as a decoration for any landscape design. A tree planted alone will look most advantageous. In groups, the Japanese maple will pull all the “blanket of attention” onto itself, so this type garden design not very suitable for him.

Japanese maple in garden design

If the tree is placed on a slight elevation, this will allow the best way highlight it and highlight its beauty. Japanese maple also looks great against the background of almost any other flowers, shrubs and trees. He can decorate with his presence a rose garden, a water area, and Japanese garden from stones. But what kind of conifers are in landscape design summer cottage can be used, indicated

We looked at the features of growing Japanese maple in the garden. As you can see, despite its exotic and rather original appearance, this plant can be grown quite safely in our climate. By following the advice from the article, you can easily grow this wonderful plant on your site and decorate the landscape outside your window with a bright, cheerful spot.

Info

Momiji (紅葉)

Japanese maple (Ácer japónicum) is a species of perennial woody deciduous plant of the genus Acer, native to Japan in Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū, and also in southern Korea.

Japanese maples Momiji (紅葉) - exceptionally spectacular, ornamental trees and shrubs. Even in winter, these deciduous plants captivate the eye with their unusual shape of a bare crown, reminiscent of a mushroom or umbrella, and many thin weeping branches. However, the beauty of Japanese maples peaks in autumn, when their foliage turns vibrant, almost stunning colors.

Names in other languages: English. Downy Japanese Maple, Fullmoon Maple, Fin. Hokkaidonvaahtera, fr. érable du Japon, Japanese. ハウチワカエデ・羽団扇楓 (hauchiwa kaede).

The maple genus (Acer) consists of approximately 110 species of deciduous (less commonly evergreen) trees and shrubs that grow naturally in the moist forests of Europe, northern and central America and Asia.

It's about only about a certain category of maples, which are usually called Japanese (they come from Japan and Korea). This group includes only two species: Japanese maple (A. japonicum) and mountain maple (A. palmatum) with its popular “fan” variety Dissectum, which has dissected, feathery leaves resembling a lace fan.

The maple was first described in 1784 by Murray based on the unpublished work of Thunberg. Since then, many synonyms have appeared in the literature, the most common being Acer circumlobatum Maxim (1867). Its identity as Acer japonicum was shown by Koizumi in 1911.

Its victorious march in the European garden culture Japanese maples began as early as the 1600s, and by 1882, 202 varieties were known in Britain. Currently, garden centers offer several hundred varieties of Japanese maples, which differ primarily in the color of their leaves, which are especially impressive in the fall, when the maples change color dramatically.

The size of Japanese maples depends on the variety: Japanese and palmate maples can reach 8 m in height, while varieties with dissected foliage usually do not exceed 2 m (in rare cases, 4 m at about 25 years of age). The latter often grow more in width than in height.

The leaves of Japanese maples are small and exclusively decorative. The color of the leaves comes in all shades of green, burgundy, red, yellow-orange and even pink and appears best in open, well-lit spaces.

Maple flowers are small, yellow-green or reddish, depending on the plant variety. After flowering ends, small paired winged fruits are formed on the plants. Some maples are also decorative with their bark.

An ancient Japanese legend about a wise emperor and maple leaves

Once upon a time, Japan was ruled by an emperor named Takakura no In. He loved nature, plants, and had a special weakness for maples. Their beauty fascinated, bewitched and pacified him. Takakura no In ordered his gardeners to plant the mountain on top of which his palace stood with every kind of maple tree they could find.

Many years passed, the maples grew and the emperor's dream came true. The entire mountain was intricately covered with colorful maples that grew in the shape of mushrooms, flowerpots or waterfalls, and their elaborate leaves resembled hands, lace fans and even the strings of an old harp.

Every year the emperor patiently waited for the onset of autumn, when the foliage on his maples acquired a special bright colors. Putting aside all his important government affairs, Takakura no In came to the mountain palace to admire the carpet of colorful maple leaves on the ground.

One cold autumn day, a new, very diligent gardener was working on the mountain, who knew nothing about the emperor's passion. Trying to produce good impression In response to the owner, the gardener and members of his family raked literally all the fallen maple leaves from the ground and made a huge fire from them, around which they settled down for the night. And in the morning, the courtiers, seeing bare maples, blackening earth and ashes on the mountain, began to seriously fear for the life of the new gardener.

At this time, Takakura no In alone climbed to the top of the mountain to enjoy the long-awaited beauty. Instead of a multi-colored tapestry of leaves, his eyes met a dull sight of black earth and cooled ashes, around which the gardener's family slept peacefully. The Emperor understood everything. Contrary to the samurai's fears, a soft, kind smile suddenly lit up his face.

Takakura no In returned to the palace and wrote a poem about the special gift that maple leaves have: they can not only pacify our souls with their exquisite beauty, but also warm our mortal bodies with their warmth.

IN natural environment Japanese maples grow as undergrowth, so they are accustomed to a high humus content in the soil, partial shade, and a more or less constant level of humidity. Japanese maples will grow in any garden if they are created there suitable conditions for these plants.

Majority garden soils are quite suitable for Japanese maples, with the exception of highly alkaline ones, as well as places with poor water permeability and standing water or completely dry out in the heat.

Another danger facing Japanese maples is late spring frosts, which can damage tender young leaves. Although, as already mentioned, the color of Japanese maples appears better in open spaces with plenty of light, when choosing a place for planting, you should be wary of direct hot sun during the midday hours. Varieties with bicolored or edged leaves are especially vulnerable to the scorching sun; they must be planted in semi-shaded areas or places with sparse light.

Japanese maples are not affected by diseases and pests if grown in the right conditions. Weakened plants can be attacked by aphids, weevils and scale insects, as well as fungal infections.

Japanese maples combine well with each other. You can create a whole garden of Japanese maples by collecting plants of suitable sizes, shapes and colors together. You can go further and create an entire Japanese garden by planting traditional Japanese shrubs and trees in a special area: azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, kerias, magnolias, pieris, hydrangeas, witch hazels, stewartias, skimmias, mahonias and maples.

Japanese maples are traditionally planted next to perennials: hostas, ornamental grasses (whose thin, straight stems create a wonderful contrast with the horizontal style of maples), low ferns and flat, wide clumps of spring and autumn bulbs.

Japanese maples look great in rock gardens, near water, in light forest belts, in shrub borders and mixed gardens. Japanese maples are used to form topiari and bonsai.

There are several subspecies that differ slightly in the shape and degree of pubescence of the lionfish and leaves; There are many cultivars used in ornamental gardening.

In culture it is easily propagated by seeds or by grafting onto palm maple.

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