The Japanese maple, Acer Palmatum, is one of nature's true works of art with it's statuesque architecture and intriguing and colorful foliage. It exudes the essence of ancient eastern gardens, voluntarily growing like a trained bonsai, branching out an layered.
Adding one japanese maple to your garden is like buying all new furniture for your home. The acer is a perfect way to take your garden to the next level and really draw the attention of your visitors. Whether you are going for a themed garden or you are just trying something new, Japanese maples will rarely disappoint if cared for properly.
The most important thing to remember is that maples are very thirsty trees with shallow roots, and they will dry out quickly if not watered frequently. Make sure you have well-drained soil– amend with sand or bark if your yard is mostly hard clay. Mound up with good top soil to ensure good drainage. Water well at least three times a week, and make sure not plant your tree in direct sunlight or wind that may cause it to dry more quickly. Fertilize once at the beginning of each season with a go all-purpose slow-release fertilizer.
We have a red lace leaf maple that is sprouting lots of new branches, but they are not red or lacey leaves. Someone told us that if those branches aren’t cut-out, they’ll over take the red lace and we’ll end up with whatever it is that is growing. Can anyone provide some guidance on what we have going on and what we should do (if anything) about it?
What you have been told is correct. Many red-leaf maples are grafted onto strong green-leaf root-stock. Here is a link with a little more information: Grafted Japanese Maple