How To Prepare Soil For Japanese Maple
Im trying to advise my son-in-law how to prepare his garden for 4 Japanese maples.
How to prepare soil for japanese maple. One example is mixing regular potting soil 5050 with composted pine bark. Soil preparation with organic matter is important especially if the soil is heavy clay. Thats what made it topsoil.
Mulch with 6 inches after planting to reduce the need for frequent watering and protection of their shallow roots. Japanese Maple are greedy feeders especially when young. Apply the water to the root zone slowly so that the soil can absorb as much water as possible.
What a Japanese maple really needs is good rich soil that contains a significant amount of organic matter. Until your tree is well-established take the time to water it whenever the soil feels dry particularly when it hasnt been raining much. When planting a Japanese maple tree in dense clay or other heavy soils it is beneficial to thoroughly mix in some aged compost bagged top soil andor a good planting mix at a 5050 ratio with the native soil removed from the planting hole.
Japanese maples do well in most types of soil. This mix will provide good drainage combined with good water and nutrient holding capacity. Stop when the water begins to run off.
Soil Preparation and Planting If your soil is heavy clay make the planting hole 2 to 4 inches shallower than the root ball. Japanese maples grow best in moist soil that drains well so depending on your local weather conditions you may have to water several times each week. Before planting work as much compost as you like into the soil around the tree and keep adding it during spring and early summer.
If your yard is made of of heavy clay soil the ideal thing to do is build a raised planting bed by bringing in good. Influencing the pH of the soil is a process that is ongoing so it may take a few months before your Japanese maple shows signs of recovery. Consisting 40 fine silt or sand usually your native soil 20 peat moss and 40 organic compost.