How should I water my Bloodgood Japanese Maple?

After back filling and lightly compacting the 50/50 mix of existing soil and compost give the Bloodgood Japanese Maple a good deep watering. This is not to be rushed. most of the water you put on the plant at first will run away from the plant until the soil is soaked. A general rule of thumb is to count to 5 for every one gallon of pot size. For example a one gallon pot would be watered until you count to 5 a three gallon pot would be 15 and so on. Check the plant daily for the first week or so and then every other day there after. Water using the counting method for the first few weeks.

What type of fertilizer should I use?

Feeding your plants is probably the single most forgotten part of growing healthy long lasting plants. Maintaining a constant low level of fertility will keep your trees healthy throughout the year. Applying high levels of nitrogen (N) is not recommended. Avoid using high N lawn fertilizer on Japanese maples. Japanese maples look best and develop thicker stems when allowed to grow at a slower speed. Applying high amounts of nitrogen will cause excessively fast growth that will weaken the plant. Weak branches can lead to damage if you are located where icing during winter is a problem. Fertilizing your Japanese maple with the proper type of fertilizer should be done either in late winter while the ground is still cold (frozen?), or after the last freeze in spring. I recommend using a slow or controlled release type fertilizer. When using a slow-release pellet-type fertilizer, it is best to bore holes about 6 inches deep into the soil about half way between the main trunk and the drip line of the branches. IMPORTANT: Scattering slow-release fertilizer on the top of the soil does not allow the fertilizer to maintain a constant moisture level inside the pellet, resulting in sporadic and possibly untimely releases. Bore several holes around the tree and divide the proper amount of fertilizer recommended by the manufacturer by the number of holes. Drop the fertilizer into the holes and fill the remainder of the holes with soil. Water around the tree and now the tree is fertilized for an entire year. As the tree grows, the amount of fertilizer will need to be increased. Tree fertilizer spikes also work well and are easy to use. Follow recommended rates based on the tree size. Important Note: I only recommend using liquid type fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® on Japanese maples during the first summer, and only to help establish the tree. Once you see good growth you can stop liquid feeding. Do not liquid feed in late fall or early spring. Liquid fertilizers encourage Japanese maples to grow instantly, and this is not recommended as early freezes in fall and late freezes in spring will cause damage or kill your tree.

What type of mulch should I use?

We highly recommend that you mulch your Bloodgood Japanese Maple with either a ground hardwood mulch or a ground cypress mulch depending on your local availability. Any type of mulch will do but cypress or hardwood mulch will be of a higher quality and provide better nutrition overall as they breakdown. Mulching helps to keep weeds away which will compete with your new investment for water and nutrients. A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch is sufficient but remember to take care not to cover any part of the stem of the plant with mulch. Its better to leave a one inch gap of space between the mulch and the stem or trunk of the plant.

How should I prune my Bloodgood Japanese Maple?

Japanese maples such as Bloodgood Japanese Maple are not especially particular as to when they are pruned; however, spring is generally not a good time as new growth and sap are beginning to develop. Winter and summer are commonly accepted as good times to prune. The winter is probably the best time as it is easy to see the branches and growing structure of the tree. Summer, on the other hand, allows for a more accurate gauge of which branches need to be thinned. It is important to be careful of the temperature when pruning in the summer, however. Removing thicker areas of foliage can reveal previously shaded areas and invite scalding by the sun. Pruning the upright Japanese maple such as Bloodgood Japanese Maples involves four main steps. The first is to prune off lower limbs that crowd other low-growing shrubs or possibly impede a walkway. Next, prune off dead wood — that is, any dead twigs or brittle branches that no longer grow foliage. The third step is to separate the tree into layers. Remove branches that intrude into the layers above and below them. The final step is to evenly thin the branches. Remove some small lateral branches and keep others for an overall thinned out look. The ideal appearance is to have fewer branches that fill all the empty spaces. Laceleaf Japanese maples are slightly more complicated than their upright cousins. Gardeners often fall into two camps with these trees. The first camp refuses to prune the trees at all, resulting in a great ball of foliage. Gardeners belonging to the second group tend to prune too much and end up with very little. The truth falls somewhere in between. It is important to preserve this tree’s natural harmony and facilitate a shell-like growth. Start with pruning dead wood and cutting back any dragging or low branches. Avoid pruning thicker branches that are more than half the diameter of the trunk. Remove branches that do not conform to the aesthetic appearance of the tree. Branches that do not curve or divide can be pruned. As with the upright trees, separate the layers and remove branches that do not naturally follow the pattern. Thin the lace leaf trees similarly to the upright trees. The final step is to create a veiled top layer; a curtain that shields the rest of the foliage but has a uniform look is ideal. It is best to prune Bloodgood Japanese Maple in the late spring or early summer when temperatures are below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple in the garden

Images Depict Mature Plants

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost'

Plant Purple Ghost Japanese Maple near walkways or patios so you can fully enjoy the almost iridescent leaves. The dark almost black veining of the leaves make this tree a true standout in the garden. In the fall the brigh red color of the leaves adds a bright pop of color to any landscape.

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Purple Ghost Japanese Maple Trees for Sale Online

Purple Ghost Japanese Maple is a beautiful small to mid-sized upright Japanese Maple that adds distinctive color to the landscape. The finger-like leaves have a deep purple/red color with dark maroon almost black veins in early spring. The leaves take on a green color in the summer but maintain their dark purple undertones. The Purple Ghost becomes a red-leaved showpiece in the garden in the fall.

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' is prized by Japanese Maple collectors for its genuinely unique seasonal colors. This easy-to-grow Japanese Maple does best in the full sun to the partial sun, bringing out the most vibrant colors.

Purple Ghost Maple can reach heights of up to 15 feet and can grow up to 12 feet wide. This particular Japanese Maple is perfect for growing under power lines or in front of homes where a larger tree may hide the architectural aspects of the house. This small tree is commonly seen in courtyards or growing in large containers on patios or decks and will add a cooling purple color to sunny areas.

Its open branching structure allows this tree to create a filtered shade that allows some sunlight to reach the ground. This open habit also allows shrubs or perennials to grow under the tree successfully. We call this under-planting, and shrubs like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Mountain Laurels will thrive in almost perfect conditions. Perennials such as Hellebores, heuchera, hosta, and ferns love to be planted under Japanese Maples and make great companion plants.

The root system of Japanese Maples tends to grow close to the soil surface, so the tree welcomes the protection provided by smaller shrubs underplanted beneath it. Underplanting helps to keep the shallow root system cool and evenly moist.

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' grows best in hardiness zones 6 through 9, making it an excellent choice for most areas of the country except the upper midwest and the northern regions of the east coast, where winter temperatures typically fall below -10 for extended periods. Purple Ghost is more tolerable of high heat than other varieties but will not tolerate extremely dry soils for extended periods. If you live in an area susceptible to drought, we advise watering the tree periodically (weekly) during those periods.

Japanese Maples purchased in smaller containers such as 1 Gallon pots are also sought out by bonsai growers. The smaller, less-developed root system quickly transitions to shallow bonsai pots with little stress to the tree. The Purple Ghost is no exception and makes a colorful and exciting deciduous Bonsai specimen.

Japanese Maples such as Purple Ghost benefit from a spring application of slow-release fertilizer such as Espoma Tree -Tone. Compost is also beneficial when planting your tree, and we recommend good quality compost that can be sourced from your local garden center.

Hardiness Zone:	6 - 9
Mature Height:	12 to 15 feet
Mature Width:	8 to 12 feet
Classification:	Small tree
Sunlight:	Full Sun to part shade
Habit:	Deciduous
Foliage:	Deep Purple Red foliage that turns brilliant Red in fall
Soil Condition:	Any well drained soil
Water Require:	Water well until established
Uses:	Extremely attractive when used as a focal point or a specimen planting.