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2. Growing needs of Japanese maples
Where to plant?
Before deciding which maple to buy, it's worth considering its planting position. These plants have delicate foliage that is easily damaged by strong winds. The leaves can turn black with wind-scorch and frost, with the just-unfurled leaves being particularly vulnerable, so it's essential that you provide a site sheltered from cold winds. It's more difficult to find a frost-free spot, but there's always the insurance of a length of lightweight fleecy mulching fabric, which can be draped over the plant as temporary protection during critical times.
A sunny place, whether for the whole or part of the day, is also important for Acer japonicum to grow well, except for yellow-leaved forms (such as 'Aureum') that scorch in full sun. These are more suited to shady sites. A. palmatum or one of its cultivars will also tolerate a shady spot.
Guaranteed autumn colour?
Most of the maples give a reliable autumn display but to make sure of this, choose your type carefully. Those with red or purple leaves may turn to scarlet, but others don't change at all. Neither will some of the yellow-leaved maples.
It's the bright green leaves which dependably provide the show, turning to rich crimson, orange or yellow in autumn. The display is improved if you can grow the plant in a neutral or acidic soil, so if you garden on chalk or alkaline clay, add lots of garden compost, potting compost or leaf mould to the soil.
Alternatively grow the maples in large tubs of compost. Use tubs or buckets with drainage holes, and bury them up to their rims so that the shrubs appear to be growing in the soil, or place the maples in glazed pots to add to the Oriental effect. Whichever you do, don't forget to water the plants well in dry spells, but make sure that the roots cannot become waterlogged.
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