The Japanese maple from the Far East has no special requirements, but is still happy about fertilization. We show how to properly fertilize maple.
Maple (Acer) is a diverse genus of trees found in temperate latitudes worldwide. While our native maple species such as Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) can grow into mighty trees, Japanese maple Species mostly small. All the more impressive is their magnificent autumn colouring, which has meanwhile transformed many gardens into a real spectacle of colour. The two most common species are the real Japanese maple (Acer japonicum) and the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). These two are very similar and are both commonly referred to as Japanese Maple.
Although the Japanese maple includes a wide variety of varieties, even different species, they all have very similar requirements. No wonder, because they all come - as the name suggests - from Japan. There they grow naturally in forests, which are rather humid and mildly tempered due to the proximity to the sea. And if the habitat is so similar, then so are the needs and demands that the plants have.
The basic rule for fertilization is: The most beautiful autumn colors come from those specimens of the Japanese maple that have been fertilized the least. So less is definitely more. In their homeland, the decorative plants usually grow on stony ground where nutrients are not exactly sown in abundance. Therefore, fertilize as needed and sparingly.
The perfect time to fertilize maple trees
In the spring, between April and May, the growing season for the Japanese maple begins. Then it is also time to supply the sprawling plant with nutrients. Only choose long-term fertilizer that releases its nutrients over time. ThisOne-time fertilization in the spring is sufficient for the undemanding plant. Later fertilization can even lead to damage in winter if the plant does not stop growing in time due to too many nutrients.
How to fertilize maple correctly
Japanese maple should not be over-fertilized. Too much affects the stability, he alth and foliage color of the plant. An excess of nitrogen in particular can lead to susceptibility to cold and instability.
Outplanted specimens often do not even need to be fertilized at all. In their environment there are usually enough nutrients that the plants can reach with their roots. In particular, if you do not remove the fallen leaves, sufficient nutrients are always available. Potted plants, on the other hand, do not have such a rich selection and are happy about long-term fertilization, which they receive in spring.
Fertilize maple organically: application recommendation
A good place to start when fertilizing your Japanese maple is to leave the leaves under the tree in the fall. Because the foliage still contains some nutrients that the maple could not extract from the leaf before the leaf fell, such as nitrogen and potassium. As soon as they fall from the tree, they are decomposed by a host of ground creatures. In this way, the nutrients contained are released again for the plant and can be absorbed again.
However, this recycling of nutrients is not enough - after all, the Japanese maple still has to provide for an increase in shoots and leaf mass. For this reason, it makes sense to distribute a predominantly organic complete fertilizer every year in spring. You can simply push aside the foliage and sprinkle the fertilizer underneath. Under no circumstances should you work it in, as this would damage the shallow roots of the Japanese maple. A balanced fertilizer like our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is perfect because it supports the formation of humus with its animal-free organic components. Since the maple loves fresh, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil, it benefits from its structure in the long term.
A moderately nutrient-rich ready-made compost or green cuttings compost is also well suited as a fertilizer, which is also distributed in the springcan be. Of course you can also compost the leaves of the maple, but then it is advisable to cover the root area with another mulch material, for example pine bark or bark mulch.
Fertilize maple with minerals
If you decide to use mineral fertilizers, you should also attach importance to the long-term effect. Mineral fertilizers are usually quickly available for the plant, but must therefore also be given very regularly. This quickly becomes too much for the Japanese maple. It is therefore better to choose a depot fertilizer that you can feed the tree with once in the spring.
Fertilize maple naturally with home remedies
As with most plants, you can use your old coffee grounds with the Japanese maple. Just mix a portion of it into the top layer of soil in spring. Coffee grounds have the advantage that, in addition to the nutrients, they bring a certain acidity. Since the Japanese maple feels good at a pH value between 4.5 and 7, i.e. in the acidic to slightly acidic range, this home remedy is ideal. The nutrient content in coffee grounds is also not very high, which only benefits the already undemanding maple.