Tamukeyama Japanese Maple for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

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

Planting instructions

The Tamukeyama Japanese Maple is not too picky about how much sunlight it receives. It will survive in both full sunlight and partial shade conditions. Regarding soil quality, this cultivar will perform best where the soil is relatively moist but well-draining, rich with organic nutrients and slightly acidic. When you find a growing location that meets those requirements, you should dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and at least twice as wide. Place your plant in the hole, backfill with nutrient-rich soil and cover the area with a layer of organic mulch.

Watering and nutrients

After planting your Tamukeyama Japanese Maple Tree, you should water it about once every two to three days during the first growing season. After the first growing season or two, you can reduce your watering schedule to about once every week while increasing that rate to about twice per week when needed—based on the weather and soil dryness. You should fertilize your Tamukeyama Japanese Maple Tree once per year during the early spring using a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen.

Pollination

The flowers of a Tamukeyama Japanese Maple are small and inconspicuous, meaning that they hold little to no ornamental value. However, they do play an important functional role in this plant’s reproductive process. In spring, those flowers attract pollinating insects that carry pollen from one flower to another. Since the Tamukeyama Japanese Maple is a self-fertile tree, it is quite easy for it to carry out pollination successfully each year. Following pollination, the tree will produce a set of fruit in the form of winged samaras.

Pruning

The pruning needs for the Tamukeyama Japanese Maple Tree are low. Generally, most people allow this plant to develop its natural weeping form without the need for corrective pruning. In fact, pruning too much can cause this plant to produce too much new growth, which will often become weak and detract from the plant’s overall structure. You can prune in the summer or during the winter dormancy period. In either case, you should keep your pruning light and remove just the parts of the plant that are dead, damaged or show signs of disease.

Pests and diseases

Japanese maples typically face threats from several common pests and diseases. These can include canker, leaf spots and wilt, along with infections, including root rot. Along with those complications, a Japanese maple can also experience chlorosis when the soil pH gets too high. However, while that is the case for most standard Japanese maples, the cultivated variety known as “Tamukeyama Japanese Maple” shows comparatively higher pest and disease resistance, which means you likely won’t run into too many issues while you care for this plant.

Achieving maximum results

As long as you choose a suitable growing location and maintain a consistent watering schedule, your Tamukeyama Japanese Maple should remain healthy. At times, these plants can perform a bit better when they live where there is some afternoon shade, but this is not a requirement for healthy growth. Also, if you notice that your plant’s foliage color is not as deep as you expected, it is not likely a sign of disease. Instead, different light conditions can make for subtle variations in the appearance of this plant’s leaves.