Nichols Nursery
Commonly Asked Maple Questions
Q: What is the diffence between a grafted and a seedling Japanese maple?
A: A seedling Japanese maple is a mixed Japanese maple and will not remain true to its original cultivar. Most seedlings revert to green/red upright maples and many of the trees will lose their red color during the summer. A grafted Japanese maple is basically a exact copy of a cultivar that was chosen for specific traits. A grafted Japanese maple grows almost exponentially in value with age. All maples at MrMaple.com are high-quality grafted Japanese maples.
Q: Do Japanese maples like to grow in the sun or shade?
A: It depends on the variety of Japanese Maple. Some maples, such as Inaba Shidare and Bloodgood prefer to grow in the sun. Some varieties such as Green Filigree or Toyama Nishiki need to be grown with protection from the hot afternoon sun to full shade. Shade or Sun, we have the maple for you.
Q: How tall do Japanese Maples get?
A: Some maples, such as the Bloodgood Japanese maple grow into a tall tree of around 25 feet. Some maples are dwarfs, such as the ever popular laceleaf cultivar Acer palmatum dissectum Crimson Queen, which grows to a maximum height of 6 feet.
About Maples:
Maple Care:
Q:Should I put cow manure underneath the Japanese Maple when I am planting?
A: No. Using something with such a high nitrogen content and high level acidity will actually burn the maple. It is best to plant a maple in regular or potting soil.
Q: I am planting my maple in the sun, what advice do you have?
A: Mulch! The best thing to do when planting a Japanese Maple in full sun is to mulch around the base of the maple. This keeps in moisture at the roots of the maple during the summer months and will also help the maple endure colder temperatures during the winter months. It is best to use the much to cover the ground aboe the roots of the maple, but rake away the much touching the trunk of the tree.
Q: How much should I fertilize my Japanese maple?
A: Not much! Many growers over fertilize their Japanese maples, which actually stunts the growth on the trees. The best way to fertilize a maple is to use fertilizer low in nitrogen. We reccomend using water soluable fertilizers such as miracle grow. Do not spray the fertilizer directly on the leafs. Apply it to the base of the tree once every 4-6 weeks.
Still not find the answer you are looking for? Email us at
All photos are
property of
Nichols Nursery
Where to find us:
Saturdays 7am-Noon
King Street
Hendersonville, NC
LICENSED AND CERTIFIED
BY NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT of Agriculture
