Bihou Japanese Maple Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on December 16, 2022

Planting instructions

Although a Bihou Japanese Maple Tree can survive in full sunlight, it will typically look its best when it grows in partial shade, especially in the hotter parts of this plant’s growing range. Your Bihou Japanese Maple Tree will also appreciate soils that have good drainage and a relatively high amount of nutrients. Upon finding a location that meets those needs, plant this tree by digging a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and at least twice as wide.

Watering and nutrients

During the first growing season after planting your Bihou Japanese Maple Tree, you should water it often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. At times, this can mean watering once per week or more. By contrast, an established Bihou Japanese Maple Tree will need water once per week only during the hottest parts of the year. This plant does not need much fertilizer to grow well, but it can benefit from a single annual feeding of low-nitrogen fertilizer during the early spring.

Pollination

The Bihou Japanese Maple Tree blooms during the spring with flowers that hold little to no ornamental value. But while those flowers are not necessarily attractive to humans, they are very capable of attracting flying pollinator insects. Since the Bihou Japanese Maple Tree is a self-fertile plant, pollination occurs easily once those pollinators arrive. Once pollination occurs, your Bihou Japanese Maple Tree will produce a set of winged samaras, which carry this plant’s seeds and will eventually release from the tree and fall to the ground.

Pruning

The ideal time to prune a Bihou Japanese Maple Tree is during the winter while this plant is in its dormant phase. However, the Bihou Japanese Maple Tree does not need much pruning overall. In most cases, all you’ll need to do is remove any branch that is broken, dead or shows signs of disease. When pruning, be sure to use a set of tools that are as sharp and sterile as possible to limit the risk of spreading disease.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Fortunately, the Bihou Japanese Maple Tree has a strong overall resistance to most common plant diseases. However, it remains possible for this plant to experience an infection. Root rot and botrytis are two of the most common diseases to befall this plant, but they are still unlikely. Along with that low risk of disease, there is also a low risk that your Bihou Japanese Maple Tree will experience a pest infestation during its life. If an infestation occurs, it is likely the result of Japanese beetles, weevils or mites.

Achieving maximum results

You should be careful not to over-prune your Bihou Japanese Maple Tree. Pruning too much can cause this plant to respond by producing a lot of fast new growth, which is typically quite weak and prone to breakage. This is especially common when you prune a young tree too much. Also, if you notice that the fall color of your Bihou Japanese Maple Tree is lacking, it may be because it lives in a full sunlight area. Partial shade typically makes for the best color, especially in warmer growing locations.

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