- 1). Provide your Japanese maple tree with 1 inch of water per week from rainfall, irrigation or a combination of the two. Manually water the tree as needed with a drip, soaker or bubbler hose to ensure that the moisture sinks deep into the soil.
- 2). Cover the soil around your tree with a 3-inch layer of an organic mulch such as peat moss or pine straw. Add more organic mulch, as necessary, to maintain a 3-inch layer. Keep the mulch away from the trunk of the tree.
- 3). Fertilize the Japanese maple with a slow-release granular tree fertilizer in the spring to promote vigorous new growth. Apply the fertilizer according to the product label.
- 4). Prune your Japanese maple only when necessary to remove a diseased, damaged or dead branch. Cut the branch from the tree with a pair of loppers or a pruning saw.
- 5). Monitor the Japanese maple for problems with pests such as aphids, scale insects and tree borers. Treat affected trees with a horticultural oil spray, following the label directions, or contact an agricultural extension office for treatment advice.
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