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Starting A Maple Tree Garden

February 29th, 2008 · 4 Comments · maple tree

Maple Tree
Questions & Answers (Q&A)
Most Japanese Maple seeds ripen in the fall. Watch the tree and wait for the seeds to turn brown. The seeds are ready to be harvested when they are brown and can be easily removed from the tree.

The seeds are attached to a wing, it’s best to break the wing off before storing or planting the seeds. Japanese Maple seeds have a very hard outer coating as do many ornamental plants. Under natural conditions the seeds would have to be on the ground for almost two years before they would germinate. All that happens the first winter is the moisture softens the hard outer shell, and the second winter germination is beginning to take place.

In order for all of this to happen in the proper sequence so the seedlings actually sprout at a time of the year when freezing temperatures or hot summer sun doesn’t kill them, takes a tremendous amount of luck.

You can improve the odds by controlling some of these conditions, and shorten the cycle. Once you have picked the seeds and removed the wing just place them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dry place until you are ready for them. You don’t want to plant your seeds out in the spring until the danger of frost has past. For a maple tree garden here in the north May 15th is a safe bet.

If May 15th is your target date you should count backwards on the calendar 100 days. That will take you to about February 5th if my math is correct. On or about the 100th day prior to your target planting date, take the seeds and place them in a Styrofoam cup or other container that will withstand some hot water. Draw warm to hot water from your kitchen faucet and pour it over the seeds. Most of the seeds will float, just leave them in the water overnight as the water cools down. 24 hours later most of the seeds will have settled to the bottom of the cup.

Drain off the water. Place the seeds in a plastic bag with a mixture of sand and peat or other suitable growing mix. Even light potting soil will work. The peat or soil should be moist, but not soaking wet. Poke some holes in the bag so there is some air circulation, and place the bag in your refrigerator for a period of 100 days.

After 100 days you can plant the seeds outside. This is a good time to start your maple tree garden. If you have timed it correctly, you should be at or close to your target planting date.

To plant the seeds just sow them on top of a bed of well drained topsoil or sterilized potting soil, and cover with approximately 3/8” of soil. Water them thoroughly, but allow the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly again. If you water them frequently, not only do you stand a chance of the seeds rotting from being too wet, but you will also keep them cool, which will slow down the germination process.

Once they start to germinate provide about 50% shade to keep the sun from burning them. Snow fence suspended about 30” above the bed will provide about 50% shade. Japanese Maples will tolerate some shade so it isn’t too important to transplant them too quickly. Depending on how close together they are, you might be able to leave them in the same bed for one or two growing seasons. Don’t transplant until they are completely dormant.

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Maple Tree Pictures

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Maple Tree Question & Answers

Maple Tree Question: 1


I think my Red Sunset Maple is dead. Help PLZ!!?

My red sunset maple tree is 3 feet, and it has not produced any leafs yet. My other 3 Japanese Maple have already produced leafs, the Red Sunset is very dry looking, the twigs are a little wrinkly. Also, the soil, water and sun are all PERFECT. I dont know what is wrong with it. Zone level 5

Answer: 1.
I'm in zone 6, and no maple trees have produced leaves yet around here. I think you just need to be patient.

(And besides - if it IS dead, there's nothing you can do about it now anyway)

Maple Tree Question: 2


How much can I expect to pay to get a tree removed from my front yard?

I have a rather large maple tree in my front yard. It needs to be removed because the roots are seriously lifting up the concrete in both the driveway and walkway. We're trying to get our house on the market, and this is a bad selling feature, obviously.I'm wondering how much tree removal usually runs, and if they need to do anything to get at the roots too. I'll get an estimate, but I wanted to see if anyone here had an idea.

Answer: 1.
I would depend on whether or not they can get a bucket truck into your yard. If they can, I would say anywhere from 0 to 00 to cut it down and remove it. Getting the roots out requires a stump remover and that is an extra charge. Replacing the sidewalk could run you up to 0 or so, depending on how long it is. You are probably looking at at least 00, but call a local company or two and get bids. Don't just go for the first one in the phone book, call several for estimates, and make sure they are reliable by asking around. They need to be bonded and insured. We had two trees removed that were in our yard, one where a truck couldn't get to it and they had to take it down with ropes and climbing gear, and it cost us 00 for both, but we kept the wood and they didn't remove the stump. Another company wanted 00 for the same job.
Answer: 2.
Check around...there are companies that will actually pay you to take a tree!
Answer: 3.
not cheep. and if the cement walk way needs to be replaced even more. i would say 00 - 00. you can do allot of work your self but be careful cutting the tree down. you cant jest cut it you need to start at the top and take it down a little at a time.
Answer: 4.
It depends on how big the tree is and how close to your house it is - I'd say anywhere from 0 - to 00.

Maple Tree Question: 3


Which tree?

which tree is a coniferous tree?a.palmb.sprucec.mahoganyd.maple

Answer: 1.
Spruce
Answer: 2.
Spruce
Answer: 3.
b. Spruce
Answer: 4.
h
Answer: 5.
b, Babe.
Answer: 6.
B. Spruce
Answer: 7.
CONIFERS - "Conifer" is derived from Latin meaning "to bear cones" - see image in the upper left corner of this web page. Cones are a common feature of most conifers with junipers and yews being two exceptions that produce berry-like fruit. Cones are sort of like a flower. One way of identifying a conifer is to look at the leaves - neeedles or scale-like. Conifers are usually evergreen trees or shrubs with linear, needle-like or scale-like leaves, though some, like larch or tamarack, drop their leaves (deciduous) in autumn. Among the conifers are some of the smallest, largest and oldest living woody plants known.
GYMNOSPERM TREES - is another term that could have been used here. A plant that bears "naked seeds" (i.e., seeds not inclosed in an ovary like the Angiosperms - broadleaved trees, shrubs and wildflowers).
This Coniferous Trees Web Page contains most of the softwood trees, ones that tend to have leaves that are needles or scales (such as pines & cedars) and remain "evergreen" with the exception of the Larix genus (tamarack or eastern larch) that we tend to see while hiking trails in Southern Ontario, Canada.
Answer: 8.
Spruce

Maple Tree Question: 4


Special care for trees?

I would like to know what special cares there are for Red Maple, Eastern Hemlock, Northern Red Oak, BlackTartarian Cherry, and Weeping willow trees?

Answer: 1.
Hi:
All of these trees will do well in their environment once they are established in the ground. You have picked some wonderful specimens and low maintenance once they are established.

A key to giving any of your trees a good start is proper preparation of the soil. Adding some mushroom compost to be soil when planting and making sure each tree is properly watered in the beginning. A tip is when you first plant the trees, for the first week or so, take a hose and put the water on slow and the hose near the base of the tree. Rotate the hose every fifteen minutes to make sure you can all the way around the tree. This will help in getting all the roots established. You can add some pine straw or mulch around the base of the trees, but don't push it up against the base.

You can also fertilize the trees with a slow release six month nitrogen base fertilizer. This can be done in the spring and fall. Good luck with your trees. You can prune them in fall if you want to control their height and width. A lot of people like to keep their trees in a natural form.

I will link you to the proper purning page of my website. Always cut a branch at an angle. If you cut straight across you could damage the tree. I will also link you to the simple solution section, as there are pages on planting a tree and also one on planting around a tree. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through and see if you can find any other article, tip or technique that may help you with you trees or any other landscape project. Have a great day!
Kimberly

http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...

http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...

http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...

Maple Tree Question: 5


Is my Red Sunset Maple too big for bonsai?

I recieved a red sunset maple online, it is healthy, but it is three tall and the lowest branches are about 2 feet high. I was trying to make it into a informal upright style. Is this too big? What can I do to make this into a bonsai tree? The trunks are less than a inch in diameter.

Answer: 1.
If the trunk diameter is where you want it, the first thing I would do is remove the leader down to a few inches above the lowest branches to encourage budding on the trunk below.

Once this is done the you can select side branches to keep to develop the style. Of course the trunk growth will slow down considerably.

If you have more questions, try posting here, they're a good group.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/bons...
Answer: 2.
A bonsai can be up to three feet in height. Also any tree can be trained to be bonsai if you are willing to give it the time and care needed.

Read up on how to make it a bonsai, and realize that most bonsai really should be outside for the best growth. They are very rewarding, very long term commitments and I've seen many that have been passed down through families.

Contact your local bonsai clubs, too, they will be a wealth of information and many will hold classes on how to work with trees. Good luck!

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4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Anna-Flowergardengirl // Feb 29, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    Excellent directions. I’ve always wanted to know how to grow them. What is their growth rate?

  • 2 Melanie // Mar 1, 2008 at 11:51 am

    The Japanese maples in my garden have finally begun to give me seedlings. The last two years I found seedlings several inches tall but they haven’t been making it through the year. I wonder if they’re crowded out by the vigorous perennials around them?

    Do you think I could dig them up and grow them on in pots?

  • 3 admin // Mar 1, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    Yes, you can grow them in pots and transplant them back into the ground when they become hardy.

    Maples do not grow very quickly, so have patience.

  • 4 steve // Mar 2, 2008 at 11:31 am

    thanks for the tip will spend some more time looking into this, I love maple tree and we need to cut down some old box elders that are just a mess so might be a great idea for us

    steve

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