Inaba shidare

Japanese maple question: Hi, I have a tree that has been in a pot for the last 4 years and is now about 1m (40″) tall. I have recently moved house and now have a much bigger garden so I would like to plant it into the ground. Will this be ok with an established pot tree? Also, is it ok to plant a maple in a breezy position in the garden? I seem to remember reading somewhere that they are best protected from wind but can find no such info in any research I have done. Thanks for your advice.

Answer: Depending on the amount of root activity, it can either go directly into the ground or held in a larger pot for a couple of months and then planted in September. Without an illustration, I don’t know if the plant is under-potted or what level of congestion the root system is showing. If heavily congested, as for example the root system that’s pictured in the post ‘Pruning a Japanese maple – don’t try this at home’, then I would suggest moving into a pot an inch or so larger than the existing one and using a mix of equal parts multi-purpose compost (peat based) and garden soil. Leave it in the same position and start feeding it – a weekly dose of half strength liquid tomato fertiliser. A heavily congested root-ball will take a while to break out into the surrounding soil; this way you give the plant a chance to develop the primary roots without having to contend with the stresses of planting in the middle of summer.

As to the ability of a Japanese maple to withstand a breezy position, this is not a problem if the plant is not weakened by moisture stress once in the ground. Wind burn and scorching of the leaves are not consequences of exposure to excessive sun or wind but rather are symptomatic of root damage preventing the plant from keeping the leaves turgid. Physical damage from gale force winds can occur in a Japanese maple just as with any other tree or shrub. The only type of wind that is likely to damage your plant is strong, cold or freezing wind in the spring as the buds expand. A healthy, vigorous plant will recover but it will look unsightly for a while until new growth appears, so it is a good idea to protect it from any prevailing cold winds in the spring.

If you have a Japanese maple related question you want an answer to, you can send it in using the form on the contact page. Please give as much detail as possible and send in pictures, as this makes all the difference between giving a general answer and an exact answer!

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