Take two scoops of your garden’s soil, about one trowel full each, and set them in separate containers. Add ½ cup of distilled water to each separate sample and mix it into the soil thoroughly. This is something that can boost the health of the soil and encourage maximum growth and leaf beauty in your acer. Just don’t overdo it with the compost, as too much acid in the soil can harm your maple, too. A one-time application of natural compost in the Spring should be enough to give your acer the boost it needs. You Can Help “Fix” Alkaline Soil for Acers (Sort Of) Spider Mites: Spider mites can be killed with a mixture of compost and water. The compost will smother the mites while the water will help to wash them away. Japanese maples are ideal plants for growing in containers. Plant in a John Innes No. 2 potting compost or a peat-free ericaceous with 25% added sharp sand, which gives good drainage.

Simply allow your compost to “mature” in an outside space, flip your compost every three to four days (this will help the material break down evenly), and use the mature compost when planting sapling acers to give the young trees plenty of rich soil and acid to thrive in. They don’t do well in more acidic environments, however, and it’s not wise or advisable to add worms to your ericaceous compost, as the acid levels of this compost may harm the worms or drive them away into more hospitable soil. Ericaceous or naturally acidic compost is a compost that is rich in nitrogen and has a lower pH level. Acers absolutely love soil that is on the acidic side and thrive best in moderately wet, forested climates with low-pH, nutrient-rich soils. Acers also love moisture , especially when they’re small saplings. They can drown in too much water, but moderate amounts of water routinely (we recommend two deep waterings per week for young trees) are much appreciated by these acers, and they’ll do best in moderately wet soils with plenty of drainages.

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While ericaceous compost works best when planting young Japanese Maples, it is possible and beneficial to lightly fertilize your trees with this compost annually. If your Acer is in the ground it won’t need feeding, but if you want to encourage more growth you can give it a sprinkle of general purpose fertiliser at the start of the growth season (March-April). What does this mean for the composition and health of soil? Well, alkaline soils have a pH level of 8.0 or higher and tend to be high in calcium and magnesium. These soils are often clay-rich and common in drier and mountainous terrains. Scale Insects: Scale insects can be removed from plants with a mixture of compost and rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will dissolve the wax covering their bodies while the compost will kill them.

As a result of their appreciation for acidic soils, ericaceous compost is a great idea for Japanese Maples, especially young saplings who need to grow healthy and strong. The nutrients and plant food found in ericaceous compost can help boost an acer’s growing potential, and give you some truly stunning foliage in the fall. In the Spring months of April and May, place some naturally acidic compost near the base of the tree, at a radius of about 1 – 2 feet from the trunk in every direction. As the weather warms and the rains arrive, the nutrients from your compost will work their way into the earth and nourish your Japanese Maple.The last option mentioned is indeed a Maple, but it is a bit hardier and more alkaline-tolerant than Japanese Maples and is native to Ireland and the UK. It will yield some beautiful yellow foliage in the autumn and can do well in neutral and mildly basic soils. Worm Castings Can Improve Alkaline Soil Japanese maples are hardy but do best in a spot sheltered from strong winds. Red-and purple-leaved cultivars need some sun to fully develop their dark hues. Variegated Japanese maples need partial shade to prevent the afternoon sun from scorching the foliage. Green-leaved forms tolerate full sun, but are best in dappled shade as very bright conditions can sometimes cause scorch Light Requirements: Japanese Maples prefer full sun to partial shade. When selecting a location, choose a sheltered area that protects from extreme weather conditions.

Mulch with well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost or mulching bark from a garden centre, so the soil does not dry out in summer Japanese maples are best pruned when fully dormant (November to January), as maples bleed sap from pruning cuts at other times, weakening the tree. However, pruning is still best kept to a minimum as the most graceful shape comes from a tree that has been allowed to develop fairly naturally. As a result, just remove badly-placed or crossing shoots to encourage a good framework of branches to grow.Perfect for both new and established plants, blooming Fast Acer Feed is an organic granular feed combining the nutrients essential for the health growth of Japanese Maples. Also perfect for other garden shrubs and trees, it encourages rich, healthy leaves and vibrantly coloured growth. Acidic fertilizers that are store-bought can also be used here in much the same way. If your soil is simply not responding to your efforts to decrease the pH levels, it may be wiser to opt for planting shrubs and trees that prefer alkaline soil, such as