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Japanese maples are popular in the UK because most varieties are fully hardy to the UK’s changeable climate.
The plants, which typically grow just one to two feet per year, can live to be over one hundred years old if they’re well-kept.
Japanese maples are usually grown in containers but they can be planted in the ground if they are positioned correctly.
With this in mind, Jack Sutcliffe, gardening expert and co-founder at Power Sheds has shared his guide for planting Japanese maples and repotting them.
Planting Japanese maples
When planting Japanese maples, it’s best to select a spot in the garden that receives partial to full sun and has well-draining soil as too much sun will result in “scorched leaves”.
Once the location has been selected, it’s time to prepare the soil for the plant.
Jack suggested “digging a hole twice as wide as the root ball of your Japanese maple”.
He exclusively told Express.co.uk: “They need nutrient-rich soil that’s moist but well-drained.
“These trees also prefer slightly acidic soil ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the pH scale and dislike extremely alkaline soil.”
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Once the soil is prepared, place the tree in the middle and fill the hole with soil.
The plant will need to be watered thoroughly straight away and then watered heavily twice a week during normal weather conditions.
The plant will prefer to be kept in consistently moist soil.
Next, add a two to three-inch layer of mulch around the tree to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Repotting a Japanese Maple
If a Japanese maple has outgrown its container, it needs to be repotted as soon as possible.
The tree will need to be repotted every couple of years into a slightly bigger container.
When repotting, add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot before filling it with soil.
Jack explained: “Carefully remove the tree from its current pot, loosen the roots, and place it in the new pot. Fill the pot with soil and water thoroughly.”
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