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Where you always get the help you need

Japanese Maples and Ornamental Trees

April 17, 2010

Presented byJoanne Goodman

CNLP

1051 US Highway Rt. 202, Ringoes NJ, 08551 (908) 788-2600

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Japanese Maples

Four seasons of beauty Spring new growth foliage provides early season of interesting

colors

Summer vibrant colors of leaves persist

Fall-cooler weather and shorter days often intensifies existing coloror changes color entirely

Winter- interest in color or texture of trees bark. Form is also verypleasing to us.

Plant needs

Japanese maples thrive in moist but well drained soil

Requires slightly acidic soil pH (6)

Light requirements range from full sun, part sun to dense shade

Ideal is filtered sun

Cooling period of at least 40 days minimum at temperatures lessthan 40 degrees F to be dormant.

Protect young trees from winter winds, heavy snow and deer.

Japanese Maples in the Landscape

Very diverse uses for this graceful specimen

Can be used as a focal point in a lawn area

Can be used as an accent in a foundation planting

Can be used along the edge of a wooded or shaded area

Great tree for rooftop/patio container specimen

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Sizes

Japanese maples can be kept very small with pruning and arepopular Bonsai specimens.

Some Japanese maples are able to reach as tall as 40 feet highand broad with maturity.

Many Japanese maples are graft grown

They can be moderate to slow growing

Two main kinds of Japanese maples:

Acer palmatum:

Most common Leaves 1 -3

Palm shaped serrated 5-7-lobed leaf

Upright, tall, and broad 15-30

Weepers 3-4x lateral than vertical height

Acer japonicum:

Leaves are larger 3- 4

More finely lobed 7-13 lobed leaf

More rounded shape to leaves

Large upright varieties grow tall & wide

Slower growing

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Forms

Upright Varieties:

Usually as tall as wide at maturity

Branching habit is lateral

Faster growers

Weeping Varieties:

More lateral than vertical in size

Branching habit is with long arching horizontal branches to theground.

Slower growers

Foliage Shapes

Palm shape leaves can have 5-13 sharp pointed, divided lobes

Variations of serrated lobes sometimes take on an open lacey orfeathery look.

Foliage Colors

Treesare grown for the beauty of their foliage not flowers

Foliage can be many different colors:

Dark green, Bright red, Variegated, Deep red, Brilliant orange, red,purple, and yellow colors.

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Hardiness

Hardy to zones 5 & 6(our zone is ideal!)

Very tough, diseaseresistant

Durable long lasting tree,despite the myth thatthey are fragile andbrittle in old age.

Lives under black walnutand butternut speciessuccessfully tolerating

jugolone.

Care and Maintenance:

Rarely needs pruning

Prune in early spring-latewinter months whendormant

Selectively prunebranched for a desiredshape, open up tree orto keep weepingbranches off the ground.

Remove winter dieback(whitish/gray branches)in spring or anytime ofthe year to stimulatenew growth.

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Collecting and GrowingOrnamentals:

Why grow ornamentals?

They are truly rare anduniquely beautiful in thelandscape and can alsoincrease your propertyvalue with age.

Ornamentalsenhance/complimenttheir surroundings and

are a long terminvestment in thelandscape.

They often can provide:

Shade= energy savings

Habitat for wildlife

A visual conversationpiece

Choosing ornamentals

Examine the overalllandscape area.

Ask yourself what theexisting trees /shrubslook like during eachseason.

Choose a size, shape and

form that willcompliment the currentfeatures.

Determine the conditionssun, shade, wind, deer,soil conditions, etc thatthe specimen will beplanted.

Consult with aprofessional nurserymanfor the best advice.

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Evergreens:

Pines:Vanderwolf Flex

ThunderheadJapanese WhiteWeeping WhiteDragon EyeSpruces:Blue TotemMission BlueMontgomery BlueLittle Gem

Weeping NorwayWeeping WhiteFrobergDwarf AlbertaCypress:HinokiBlue IceGolden HinokiDwarf HinokiFalse CypressItallianWells HinokiCedars:Weeping Blue AtlasBlue AtlasDeodorKashmir DeodorHollies:Mary Nell

Honey MaidDragon LadyNellie Stevens

Deciduous

Dogwoods:All-Wolf Eyes,Kousa,NativePink,KousaMaples:

All -Japanese VarietiesTridentPaperbarkBeeches:Weeping PurpleWeeping GreenPurple FountainRed Obelisk

Tricolor

Birches:European WhiteRiverWhite HimalayanOthers:

Japanese StewartiaLilac TreePrinceton ElmSourwood TreeChasteDawn RedwoodParrotiaBlack GumWinterking HawthornPyramidal HornbeamPurple Robed LocustLavendar Twist RedbudGolden RainKatsura

Harry Lauders Walking stickCrimson Pointe PlumWeeping Decid Larch

Japanese SnowbellMagnolias:SweetBay