Acer Palmatum Questions

[digger714]

Here is another smaller Green Japanese Maple. Its just an acer palmatum. What is best for these trees? Partial sun or Shade? Also, this time of year, if im wanting to plant back into the ground, should i bareroot it, or just barely rake the rootball before planting? or Should i wait until spring to plant, so i can arrange the roots and put on a tile when planting? I know they dont like the afternoon sun. I have a couple on the west side of my house, they are growing, but on the the east side, i had some tridents that grew almost 8' so far this year. The palmatums grew about 4'.

 

[zelk]

in warm and dry climates partial shade is best. i would wait till early spring before new buds appear to arrange the roots. its best to get proper root structure as soon as possible, the longer you wait the harder it will be to fix

 

[digger714]

Do ya think it would be best to wait to plant in the ground until spring? or go ahead and plant now, and dig up to arrange roots in the spring? How much time would i gain growing in the ground until then, and then the shock of planting twice. What does everyone think?

 

[rockm]

For both, it you're planning to plant them out, do so now. I wouldn't worry about digging either up in the spring to fool with the roots. You can do that now when you plant them. If they were mine, I'd worry only about top level crossing roots-eliminating the worst. I'd them put them in the ground and let them go for at least three years. If you dig them before that, you've wasted time. Just planted in-ground trees take at least three years to get going appreciably.

 

[digger714]

I was thinking i would wash off the top of the roots to see the nebari to arrange to take out anything thats out of place? Then ill just gently loosen the roots around the outside. Thanks alot for all the advice youve given me. Ive actually just found a teacher in my area, so hopefully wont be asking as many bad questions.

 

[Bill S]

I was thinking i would wash off the top of the roots to see the nebari to arrange to take out anything thats out of place? Then ill just gently loosen the roots around the outside. Thanks alot for all the advice youve given me. Ive actually just found a teacher in my area, so hopefully wont be asking as many bad questions.

This approach will have those roots wishing it was spring, if you use this approach you will only see what is there, you won't be able to rearrange anything, unless you pretty much do a root disturbing repot, which you will be itching to do because it will be out of the pot and staring at you. Plant it now and wait the 3 yrs like rock said, or wait till spring and do the whole shooting match, then wait the 3 years. Talk to the new teacher first.