Fertilizing Japanese Maples

J.D. Vertrees initially advised against fertilizing Japanese maples, but experience showed fertilization can accelerate growth, making them more robust. It's crucial to use fertilizers with a nitrogen level under 15, as excessive nitrogen harms the tree. Liquid fertilizers, though low in residual buildup, should be used sparingly, ending by August to avoid late-season growth. Early May is ideal for granular fertilizers. Avoid high nitrogen levels for variegated maples. Proper winterization involves stopping fertilization by May to ensure dormancy and cold tolerance. Pruning in mid to late March before leafing out promotes healthy growth, reducing the need for excessive chemical fertilizers. Balancing fertilization with adequate watering is essential to prevent foliage burn and root damage.
Fertilize Japanese Maples
What should I fertilize my Japanese maple with?
When should I fertilize my Japanese maple?
Can I use liquid fertilizer on my Japanese maple?
When should I stop fertilizing my Japanese maple?
All these questions about fertilizing are answered in this video.
For more care information on Japanese maples click below: mrmaple.com/pages/care-of-jap...
Japanese maples are extremely easy to care for. The less you do the better. Japanese maples do not like a lot of nitrogen so fertilizers are not necessary. When purchasing fertilizer, there are 3 numbers N-P-K. The first number, N, is the nitrogen amount. You want to make sure this number is 15 or under. We do not recommend fertilizing with fish emulsion. Fertilizers with low amounts of nitrogen can be used in the early spring, however it is not necessary. All fertilizing should be stopped by June 1st.
MrMaple.com

[@bluegirl6157]

I was afraid I had lost your site, but here you are! Thank you for giving us the benefit of your information and knowledge about these wonderful trees.

[@laurasuitter2442]

Thanks for the great info! Looking forward to the pruning video too!

[@jmarotta3]

Love your videos and the Japanese maples. Looking forward to the spring pruning video

[@anthonyhill8815]

More great content for maple growers and enthusiasts. I dig Mr. Maple. Thanks again for equipping growers

[@paulbaldwin6803]

Thank you. This is very informative. I just purchased and planted 10 Japanese maples. Now I know to wait until early Spring to fertilize.

[@aaronwithrow761]

Great info in this one. I love the practical advice so we know how to best care for our maples. Really looking forward to the pruning videos, and any other videos about how to care for them. Maybe one on leaf scorch?

[@johnnyutah1053]

These last two video were great and have some great info!

[@markstevenson9080]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on Japanese Maples!

[@ssal4699]

So hard to find this info anywhere clearly thanks for breaking this down. I lost two Acers last year due to my lack of knowledge but now feel much more informed thank you 😊

[@Redshomested]

I have a japanese maple nursery myself and dang I loved this video, but I only use fox farm japanese maple fertilizer,

[@stephenkendall839]

Thank you for your advice. Very useful.

[@allanlafoe8557]

The Last 2 videos were Great!!!! Very informative for a novice like me. Looking forward to branch pruning and hopefully you will touch on root pruning for container gardening. On the branch pruning please touch on if you had 1 gallon trees like Seiryu, Orange Flame and other vigorous growers that really shot up tall but are very skinny. How do you prune that? Do you take off from the height? Thanks again. Love these videos

[@hendrag8856]

Again, thank you so much for this great video...God bless you all.

[@trevamensah8569]

Thank you for the vital information. I am considering a purchase of the Shishishigara and your tips are very helpful to its survival. Especially not planting things around that are not compatible to the trees watering schedule. Thank u.

[@sambabird7]

Very helpful! Thanks.

[@greenhorighzonz]

I dig Mr Maple! Keep up the great work

[@brendancahill3376]

Great tips on Fertilizing of Japanese Maples and very informative.

[@adriennem3168]

Helpful video!

[@markstevenson9080]

great content!

[@robertbrowning8889]

🤣🤣Love all the wonderful info!

[@ashley_wimberly]

So much wisdom and solid advice for fertilizing #japanesemaples. Thanks guys! #maplesrule 🍁

[@bluesthing7490]

GReat guys! More on the subject of pruning would be great. How to get the best results for weepers vs. uprights and the techniques used. Thanks so much!!!

[@stephenhumma4772]

Looking forward to your pruning video.

[@Nicholas-db5sl]

It’s always great to return to video episodes such as this. I’ve just gave all my Potted Acers a slow release granular feed, 12-7-19 NPK values, something which I didn’t do last year. It will be interesting to see the results. I used 30ml Tomorite liquid feed in a 9,5L watering can last year…….

[@MrMapleShow]

Sounds great!

[@somerandomguy7458]

how are they now?

[@josh.kaptur]

The NPK ratio (percentage of each in the bag) is irrelevant without specifying the AMOUNT of fertilizer put down. I wish this video had said "we typically put X pounds of nitrogen per foot of tree divided over Y monthly applications" or something like that. Take your 15-10-8 fertilizer... if I put a cup of that around the root ball or 5 pounds of it all around the dripline those are two very different fertilizations.

[@MrMapleShow]

Lots of of variables from rate of release to how the fertilizer is activated. We recommend reading the recommend dosage on the bag your are using. This type of information is Very specific to the individual fertilizer

[@tonycasey5835]

Thanks!

[@MrMapleShow]

Thank you!

[@kerryambergerjphunterco.in8904]

Love your channel! It is spring in zone 7a and most japanese maples are pretty full of new leaves. Why is my established red japanese maple (15 years) so sparse with leaves. It is much fuller on the bottom with very few leaves as you get to the top? Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!

[@waynem.7226]

Would you ever recommend using a water-soluble 9-45-15 starter fertilizer on 1yr. old acer palmatum seedlings in deep 3 1/2" pots? Top growth is healthy from 12"-18", but the roots are slow to fill out the container. The medium is around 60% pine bark/hardwood bark and 40% peat/perlite mix. Too much peat? It's early May in Z6a.

[@chris4415]

Hi, I’ve just planted out into the ground a bunch of Maples (from pots) They are about the same size as the ones in the background of this video, come spring should I fertilise do any pruning or just let them be for their first season?

[@JoeHoriuchi]

New to your channel and think your info is excellent. I'm in central California and purchased a couple of maples last month and re-planted them to the ground within a few days. Since we have been in the low triple digits with our summer temperatures, I was thinking extra watering would be required. Unfortunately my trees are dying. I have probably over watered. Should I dig them out to dry the roots and replant and fertilize, or just fertilize? Also, should I clip the dead branches and leaves? Thank you

[@MrMapleShow]

They should have all they need this year. I only recommend fertilizer in spring

[@micheller3297]

Thanks again guys!!!!!! God bless!!!!!!!!! Have a great day!!!!!!!!!# Japanese maples!!!!!!!!

[@composthappens1400]

I’m doing compost/ worm castings tea again this year. I feed vegetables and ornamentals they all seem to enjoy it.

[@andicampbell8621]

Another very informative video. Thanks. You have a new subscriber. One fert` available to me has an NPK of 4.5: 4.5: 4.5 is this too low?

[@MrMapleShow]

Might be to low to help imo

[@Fancikwok1]

Thanks for the info. It will be great if you could name the season, say Autumn or Spring, instead of the month when certain jobs is to be carried out. That will help a lot when people like me living in the other end of the globe. Thanks.

[@carolcarmona8199]

I have a Japanese maple tree in a pot how often should I fertilize and what do I use

[@MagiMystik]

When you say Prune, I have a baby Japanese Maple about 18 inches high, should I prune that or let it grow out first? Thanks!

[@brandonjohnson2728]

I Dig MrMaple!!

[@sorinmorgan2886]

Me maple I live in Auburn wa and we are a zone 8a I have a red lace leafed japanise maple and I use the ozmacote slow realese and it’s doing very well

[@smallfaucet]

I have GREAT success with foliar feeding \m/

[@brandonjohnson2728]

MRMAPLE PODCAST !!!!

[@VibeWaveTrends_]

How far are you guys from Clayton Nc

[@DarthDragos]

MRMAPLE GIFTCARD

[@oracles-x1578]

Can you please help, I have 4 small about 12 " tall (JAPANESE MAPLE INABA SHIDARE) how early can I plant them on ground. I live in Niagara area.

[@nimster64]

Can I cut back a Japanese maples down to the trunk? Will it produce new shoots? I have a small one that is to tall and I want it to be shorter so wondering if I can cut it back thank you

[@brandonjohnson2728]

I Dig MrMaple!

[@jamesgibbs6970]

What about watering the base area with liquid coffee (maybe 1/2 and 1/2 coffee/water)? I'm not sure if my soil is acidic. Might some occasional liquid coffee be good for the maples?

[@MrMapleShow]

I do not have any experience with that but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it

[@kaylac3367]

When I planted my Japanese maple trees 2 yrs ago I put bio-tone fertilizer in the hole. Then last year I fertilized with plant-tone. Are those ok or do you recommend something else? I don't want to hurt the trees. They are beautiful.

[@MrMapleShow]

Should be fine in moderation for sure

[@zer0bankoe]

Is it okay to only use some Cow Dung and special acidic type ground mixed together? And maybe some sand and Hydro granules at the bottom, I want to bonsai the tree and put moss on the soil (in the pot).😅😅

[@MrMapleShow]

Typically way to high in nitrogen I do not recommend it

[@tomhowell8997]

When is the best time to trim the roots on Japanese maples when repotting. I get liners in 2 1/2 inch pots throughout the year. Should I trim the roots when I step them up or leave the roots intact in the soil that comes out of the smaller pot.

[@MrMapleShow]

In trim roots when our of leaf

[@kaishatran6922]

Please can you give me the address of Japanese maples nursery address I want to go there and shop and buy Japanese maples please

[@rogerhiggins655]

Will a Ukigumo get its variegation back if it has gone all green? Is there something to do for this?

[@MrMapleShow]

It’s inconsistent but is typically the best color when it leafs out slowly. It typically doesn’t revert but is more green when leaf’s out fast.

[@adriennem3168]

If you plant a Japanese maple when dormant (naturally defoliated) and added some composted manure when planting, would it hurt it in fall/winter or just help it in spring?

[@MrMapleShow]

Typically not good drainage and to much nitrogen on composted Manure. I wouldn’t recommend it

[@adriennem3168]

@@MrMapleShow Thanks!

[@alvinwhitley1490]

I dig Me Maple !

[@spencevonbraski3883]

Mr. Maple , what’s your thoughts on fish emulsion for Japanese Maples?

[@MrMapleShow]

Fish emulsion used over and over causes large amounts of growth but often seems to stretch out the cambium making the trees unhealthy. This can cause them to struggle in droughts or not make it through the winter.

[@MrMapleShow]

Great question!

[@spencevonbraski3883]

MrMaple Show , thank you!

[@edieparsu8857]

MRMAPLE PODCASTS

[@TomWillemsGuitars]

If you are using a liquid fertilizer with lower numbers ( 7-3-5), can you use it more often than every 3 weeks?

[@MrMapleShow]

I wouldn’t recommend closer and I would only regiment 4/5 times at that spacing

[@soumilyarlagadda9764]

The second guy sounds like jim putnam

[@MrMapleShow]

I’ll take that as a compliment :)

[@kitwin9905]

Can bloodgood maple grow in highlands ranch Colorado, 5a zone.

[@MrMapleShow]

Yea it should do good

[@jlgoins64]

Where in Western N.C. are you guys in....I'm in central N.C. ???

[@MrMapleShow]

East Flat Rock

[@slane_design]

mrmaple giftcard!

[@Deshojo78]

After repotting, when is the ideal time to start fertilizing?

[@MrMapleShow]

Spring

[@Deshojo78]

@@MrMapleShow how soon after I repot? (I bare rooted the tree for bonsai)

[@nbojesen8864]

How can I encourage my Japanese maple to stay purple? It is a "dull" purple and new growth is green.

[@MrMapleShow]

Morning sun with late day shade works best. Greatly depends on the cultivar. Some will always turn green in summer

[@aliciarogers9753]

I'm in Ga 7B. My Crimson Queen has been in 1 yr. Best time to fertilize & frequency using Osmocote. Thank you!

[@legendarybeefcurtain9502]

I used a 14-14-14 slow release fertilizer is this bad ?

[@MrMapleShow]

Should be ok just don’t use a lot

[@paulasmith9368]

What numbers do you recommend?

[@zeroibis]

!! #JAPANESE MAPLES #japanesemaples !!

[@rjayt88]

Does fertilizing Japanese Maples affect the fall color?

[@MrMapleShow]

Late in the season yes. We cut it off after May and it has no effect. Late can push new growth

[@rjayt88]

@@MrMapleShow Thanks for your help.

[@brandonjohnson2728]

"MRMAPLE GIFTCARD" !

[@micheller3297]

Mr. Maple gift card!!!!!! God bless!!!!!!

[@GardeningWithMaples]

Mr.maple giftcard

[@michaelnelon9037]

#japanese maples

[@alexpfliger9723]

#japanesemaples

[@angelcoleman4447]

You mentioned several times when to stop fertilizing, but I think I missed it if you said when to start.

[@MrMapleShow]

Early spring is the best.

[@robertnjarman]

#JAPANESEMAPLE

[@GardeningWithMaples]

#japaneseMaple

[@IcecoldDan26]

Great info! MRMAPLE GIFTCARD 🍁👍

[@zeroibis]

>

[@obsessedwithlawnoddswithgr2092]

#Japanese maples

[@IcecoldDan26]

#japanesemaples

[@obsessedwithlawnoddswithgr2092]

#Japanese maples