John W asked:
Japanese maples have a tendencie to fade in the summer and I want a red maple that will hold its color. Any suggestions?
Japanese
Japanese maples have a tendencie to fade in the summer and I want a red maple that will hold its color. Any suggestions?
Japanese
Japanese
try this site …..there are many more pages on this site..
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Make sure you purchase a grafted tree – NOT a seedling. I like ‘Bloodgood’ as it has a very dark red foliage that retains its color even in summer heat. I will add that some trees are more red than others, even grafted trees. Try to purchase one in the summer that has been exposed to direct sunlight. You will get a chance to see how red the tree is. You can purchase it and plant it in the fall when the conditions are right for planting.
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DR NC has some good points, I’d like to add to those:
Environmental factors play an important part of the success of Japanese Maples. In the heat, the leaves on the tree may burn at the tips and or curl. This is exacerbated by lack of water. Water on the foliage of the plant can also lead to damage. Lastly these heat and dryness factors can impact the color of the foliage, making it appear less colorful. New growth usually reflects good color, regardless of the stresses on the older foliage.
Planting in a somewhat protected site may help improve the color. Keep the plants moist but not wet, I’d recommend a good 2-3″ of wood mulch to stabilize the moisture level in the soil. Also use an organic fertilizer, consider ESPOMA ‘treetone’.
I hope that this helps
Good luck-