Planting Tips For Japanese Maples

Here in the Bay Area we typically have soils that have a high clay content; unfortunately, this is the least favorite soil type of Japanese Maples. Despite this, you can still garden successfully with Japanese Maples; just follow these few guidelines:

1. Consider where you place the tree in the garden.

- Avoid planting in areas where water collects and puddles during our rainy season.

- Avoid planting in the lawn or where lawn irrigation prohibits the soil from partially drying out.

2. Adapt your planting technique. Follow our general planting guidelines with these few alterations.

- Plant the tree with the top of the root ball 6-8 inches above the soil
line of your garden and bring the soil up to the top of the root ball.
This will create a mound on which your tree will grow improving the
drainage around the roots. This is less important if you are planting
on a slope or if you have soil that drains well.

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