Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis' Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on July 12, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your weeping Japanese maple tree where it will get some sun — eight hours or less a day is best — in soil that drains well and has been amended with well-rotted compost or manure. Unpot your sapling, and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the sapling in the hole, spreading out the roots. Holding the plant upright and steady, fill in around it with topsoil that has had compost or manure added to it, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the tree’s root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth.

Watering and nutrients

Your weeping Japanese maple tree needs frequent watering when it is newly planted — several times a week, or whenever the soil is dry 2 inches below the surface. After the first year, you can cut back on supplemental watering, limiting it to times when you are experiencing drought-like conditions. Water at the root zone, preferably in the early morning. Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release product in early spring before new growth starts. Use a fertilizer that is designed for landscape trees and shrubs.

Pollination

Japanese maple trees produce small reddish flowers that, if pollinated by insects such as bees, are followed by green samaras — the seed pods often called “helicopters” — which are released in the fall and travel by way of the wind. Hybrid varieties of Japanese Maple, however, rarely produce true to type and must be cloned or root-propagated.

Pruning

The main pruning task you will have with your weeping Japanese maple tree is trimming out any dead, diseased, or damaged limbs whenever you see them. No other pruning is required, although you can do some light shaping in late winter if you wish.

Pests and diseases

The most common pest of the weeping Japanese maple tree is the Japanese beetle. You may also see signs of scale insects, aphids, and mites on your tree. Keeping your tree healthy and well-watered will help it to fight off infestations. Often, a strong blast from a hose can get rid of insects. Another option is to release beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, which eat aphids. Diseases of the Japanese maple tree include cankers, which can get a foothold if the bark of the tree has been damaged in some way, and verticillium wilt, a fungal disease. Trim out branches where the leaves have wilted or died, and keep the area around the base of the tree free of debris to deter both disease and pests.

Achieving maximum results

Although Japanese maple trees are generally not difficult trees to grow, a little pampering when they are young can help you set your tree up for a successful life. When siting your tree, consider the quality of sunlight that the spot receives. If it is prone to hot afternoon sun, it might not be the best choice for your Japanese maple. The tree will also benefit if it is planted away from prevailing winds and is in a spot that is protected from late spring frosts. Japanese maple trees don’t like salty soil, so if your roads are kept clear of snow in the winter with salt spray, avoid planting your maple near the road. When your tree is young, it is also susceptible to frost damage, so if you are anticipating a late frost after the tree has begun to leaf out, consider covering it with agricultural fabric or even a blanket.

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