What Type Of Soil Do Japanese Maples Need
Arent these two statements contradicting.
What type of soil do japanese maples need. Japanese maples do well in most types of soil. The first step toward having a container-grown Japanese maple is to determine a variety that would work well in your area. Constantly soggy soil will lead to root root rot which is the most prevalent killer of Japanese maples in containers and in the ground.
Growing Japanese Maples in Pots. Grow Japanese maples in moist but well-drained soil ideally slightly sandy acidic soil in a sheltered spot out of the way of prevailing winds. As long as the texture stays loose and the soil depth allows the roots to anchor the tree to the site the maple tree grows well.
Once planted it takes around three or four months for the root system to establish itself in its new planting site so it requires regular water. Choose a pot that drains well and is about 2 times the size of the rootball or the container your Japanese Maple is in now. A well drained medium will result in a well-aerated mix which is so important with woody ornamentals and especially important with Japanese Maples.
Most Japanese maples tolerate full sun or shade but variegated types do best in partial shade. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14 with anything below 7 being considered acidic and anything over 7 considered alkaline. You can grow any Japanese Maple in a planter but for the best results choose a cultivar that grows to 10 feet or less.
Well composted leaf mold or well rotted cow manure worked into the soil is ideal. The ideal soil for Japanese maples is a slightly acidic ph of 55-65 sandy loam soil with a low to medium amount of organic matter. Japanese maples prefer a moderately acid to neutral soil ranging from 60 to 70 on the pH scale.
These types of soils can lead to root rot and bring about disease. Then on another page i read that they do not like Peat Moss based Potting Soil which is actually lightly aciding pH58. Japanese maples like moist but not wet soils.