My Colorful Japanese Maple Grove

November 5, 2018

The Japanese maple grove at my Bedford, New York farm is filled with a rainbow of bright yellows, oranges and reds. If you haven't already, please take a look at the photos I posted this weekend on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.

The Japanese maples in this grove are varieties of Acer palmatum - trees that have been cultivated in Japanese gardens for centuries. Over the last several years, I’ve planted hundreds of these Japanese maples in a section of my shade garden not far from my chicken coops and stable barn. They were planted in honor of my late sister, Laura Plimpton. I just love these trees. They provide countless variations in size, leaf shape, and color, creating a landscape of beauty and texture.

Here are a few more photos - enjoy.

: Few trees are as beautiful as the Japanese maple. With more than a thousand varieties and cultivars including hybrids, the iconic Japanese maple tree is among the most versatile small trees for use in the landscape.

: Japanese maples are native to areas of Japan, Korea, China and Russia. In Japan, the maple is called the “autumn welcoming tree” and is planted in the western portion of gardens – the direction from which fall arrives there.

: Japanese maples prefer dappled sun or part shade. I purposely planted them beneath larger trees in this area of the farm. The varying heights of these trees also adds a nice texture to the grove.

: The best location is a sunny spot with afternoon shade. Red and variegated leaves need relief from the hot afternoon sun, but need the light to attain full color. Golden leaves reach this striking hue with dappled sun, and remain green in deep shade.

: These trees are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8.

: I always stake my young trees. Staking the trees keeps weed whackers from getting too close when the interior beds are trimmed and cleaned.

: Japanese maples typically grow about one-foot per year for the first 50-years, but they can live to be more than a hundred.

: Their forms can be weeping, rounded, dwarf, mounding, upright, or cascading.

: Red leafed cultivars are the most popular, followed by green shrubs with deeply dissected leaves.

: Cultivars are categorized into groups by leaf-shape. This tree is in the Amoenum Group because it has the coarsest and fullest leaf structures. The lobes are divided, but only about two-thirds of the way down to the leaf base.

: The leaves in the Palmatum Group are most typical of the wild species. The leaf lobes are more divided, nearly to the leaf base.

: The selections in the Palmatum Group most closely resemble the palms of hands with outstretched fingers. In fact, that is why the species name is palmatum – after the hand-like shape of its leaves.

: Japanese maple leaves range from about an inch-and-a-half to four-inches long and wide with five, seven, or nine acutely pointed lobes.

: These leaves are deeply divided, but each lobe is also dissected, giving them a lacy effect. These are from the Dissectum Group.

: I love the bright yellow color of this lace-leaf variety.

: Japanese maple trees are particularly suitable for borders and ornamental paths because their root systems are compact and not invasive. Through this woodland grove, they line both sides of the carriage road.

: This one shows off orange and yellow leaves.

: Any heavy pruning should be done in late winter before leaf buds begin to open. Cut out scraggly interior twigs and branches, but leave the structural branches alone. Small, corrective cuts can be made any time of year.

: Young trees should be kept moist to prevent their shallow root structures from drying out and weakening, particularly during the hot summer months.

: I love the contrast between the bright reds, yellows and greens in this grove. The heavy leaf cover on the ground also enriches the soil and adds even more fall color.

: Japanese maples are hardy and can withstand very cold temperatures. In summer, water deeply during dry spells, but cut back on the amount of water in late summer to intensify the autumn color.