Japanese Maples are a favorite landscape specimen for home gardens and will look their best through summer with some protective measures. The climate of Japan is more like Portland Oregon than our much sunnier and warmer Valley. As a result, your maples may suffer from heat stress until they get acclimated to our Valley conditions. Fortunately, there are quick, simple, and inexpensive ways to protect your Japanese Maples while they acclimate.
Most Japanese maples in our climate do best if located in a spot that receives afternoon shade and wind protection. The morning sun side of a house is usually ideal.
Feed Japanese Maples with Superthrive Protect to improve heat tolerance.
Also, place a layer of mulch under your tree to insulate the soil – just be sure to keep the mulch 3” to 4″ away from the trunk to prevent crown rot.
And you can simulate Oregon’s more northern summer sky and cloudy conditions with a simple spray product called Bonide Wilt Stop. Wilt Stop is an antitranspirant plant protector that is completely transparent and will not cloud or cover up the colorful beauty of your Japanese Maples. It merely reduces evaporation through the leaf tissues.
Wilt Stop protects your trees from our hot, dry, and sometimes windy summers like an invisible umbrella. The time to apply it is now before your beautiful Japanese Maples show the crispy leaf edges and other signs of heat stress. Alden Lane recommends you apply Wilt Stop during the early summer before wind and heat affect your maples.
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