Posts Tagged: Japanese Maple
Summer-Beautiful Trees.
I was raised in the desert, in a landscape with more cactus than trees. So I especially appreciate...
Mistletoe Is NOT a Kissing Cousin of Your Trees
Advice From the Help Desk of the Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County
MGCC Help Desk Response: I'm responding to your request to the MGCC Help Desk and provide some information about how you might try to eliminate or at least manage and reduce further spread of the mistletoe that has invaded your Japanese Maple.
As you know, mistletoe is a parasitic plant that lives on trees. Mistletoe is the common name given to several parasitic plants that grow on trees. It absorbs both water and nutrients from the tree. While an otherwise healthy tree can tolerate a couple of mistletoe infestations, trees that are stressed become even more stressed from the presence of mistletoe. Also, about 3 or 4 years after mistletoe starts growing on a tree, if the plant is a female, it can start producing sticky seeds which can fall and infect other branches or can be carried by birds to new locations. For these reasons, the University of California recommends that the problem be managed (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7437.html).
If it is possible to remove the branches or a portion of the branches where mistletoe is attached, that approach is the most likely to rid the tree of the infestation. If you use this approach, you will want to make your pruning cuts at least a foot below the location where the mistletoe is attached. The reason to make the cuts well below the attachment point is because the mistletoe creates rootlike structures in the water conducting tissue of the tree. These structures extend both up and down the branch. Removing the branch at least a foot below the point of attachment makes it more likely that you will remove the rootlike structures. If you fail to remove them, the mistletoe can regrow from the root structures. Before undertaking your pruning, you might also want to look at this University of California website which has a diagram depicting how the root like structures develop in the tree's tissue above and below the point of attachment of the mistletoe.http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/ID/mistletoechar.html
Also, as mistletoe can easily spread from tree to tree, you might want to encourage any neighbors with infected trees to take steps to eliminate infestations in their trees.
Finally, if you see that the tree is being stressed from the drought, giving the tree some additional water should help reduce the tree's stress. In addition to a deep watering approach, if you don't already have mulch around the base of the tree, you might want to add some. The mulch layer can help the soils retain water. Mulch 3-4 inches deep under the canopy of the tree. Avoid placing mulch immediately next to the trunk as it could harbor insect pests and diseases that may harm the tree.
We hope that this information is useful in your efforts to help your tree become and remain healthy. You're welcome to contact us again, either at a Farmers Market or through our Help Desk, if you have further questions.
Help Desk of the Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County
Note: The Master Gardeners of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/
/span>/span>A Magical Space
On Sunday which happened to be May 5, I had the “honor “of going to Bruce’s SAW (Sacramento Area Woodworkers) Club’s annual Spring open workshop tour. I use the word “honor” since the only reason I got to go was to read the map and instructions on how to get from stop to stop. I usually do the map reading and checking for where to turn in advance; I am proud to say that I do my “job” well and we don’t get lost – too often, that is. When the destination is reached, it’s back to the books and magazines for me; I’m really not interested in the oohs and aahs from looking at various jigs, hand-made or store-bought, nor do I care for the difference between Delta and Dewalt tools ( the difference appears to me that Delta is blue and Dewalt is yellow and black) – potato/patato!
However, at the last stop, LuLu (my intrepid little pooch) indicated that a potty break was due! Getting out of the car, I walked past the workshop with the throng of men and 2 women looking around and found the true jackpot! The “Master Gardenering” spot of Citrus Heights!
Before me was a path of decomposed granite which led me forward into a small ravine filled with many Japanese maples (Acer palmatum). Here and there among the most amazing mossy boulders were ferns, azaleas, and other wonderful plants growing as through it was natural habitat! As I hung onto LuLu’s leash, I descended further into this quiet, but alive garden. The wind going through the huge oaks, redwoods, and bay trees was audible but I could not feel it; the Japanese maples moved not an inch! It was heavenly!
I noticed a house above this sunken area and figured I was in someone else’s yard so I scurried off. Coming back to the car, I suddenly noticed that there was a small orchard to my left and since it was next to the shop – they were still oohing and aahing—I decided to look through there. Pear trees, peaches, nectarines, 3 varieties of cherries, fig trees and 20(!) grape vines pruned up as standards 12 feet tall and 5 vines to a small square framework. These were stars of the property to me, yet they all went unnoticed by the others.
I asked our host, Marion Gribskov, about the orchard and about the unusual grapevine which was actually 3 vines, braided up to 7 feet and then presented as an espalier following the peaked side of the workshop. The answer was rather surprising, “My wife does all that!. When we left, I was invited to come back, although I wasn’t sure if it was just a courteous remark. I made up my mind to come back very soon and talk to Mrs. Marion!
The very next day, I called to make an appointment to come back and talk with the “head” gardener about the how and why of the garden. I’m so very glad I did! On Tuesday, I spent a most enjoyable 2 hours with Jean, who advised me right off that “I don’t really know what to do, but I just do it”.
Jean started her garden in 1996, knowing that she like the Japanese maples she saw at Capitol Nursery (since gone) and wanted to grow 1 or 2 in front of the main windows of the house for viewing. She now has a total of 89 and as many cultivars. She buys them from a man in the gardening trade in the Sacramento area who makes a yearly trip to the Oregon/Washington area to gather specimens and bring back to sell. She’s such a good client now that she gets 1st pick when he returns! The most help she has had was when a gardener she knew suggested and then made the paths through her garden ravine; she balked at first, but now is glad he did so as there are now “destinations” throughout the area, along with plenty of resting places.
Other than that help, she only has people come in to plant the new trees – she does the rest! I discover through the tour that she has rhododendrons (4 total) mainly growing up at the top of the property, where they can be easily seen thru the various layers of maple trees. At least 25 azaleas thrive as understory to the maples which are themselves the understory to the much larger oaks, redwoods, and bays. The most wonderful touch is that everything can be seen since the “skirts” of the large trees have been raised above eye-level, nothing is hidden or crowded.
I noticed that the main limbs of the maples were covered by the sturdy covering used to protect trees from weed-eaters and lawn mowers which are NOT used in the garden. I figured that rabbits and raccoons were a problem. Nope! The Japanese maples wear the protection due to sun scald AND the blows from branches falling from the oaks and bays! Their little limbs may bend a lot from dropped branches, but don’t break.
This woman has accomplished all this beauty and serenity through little help and without the trusty SUNSET GARDENING BOOK; I intend to buy her a copy; she deserves it.
PS: She buys most of her plants from QVC, the shopping network. How about them apples?
Japanese Maples
One of the most graceful appearing trees in the landscape is the Japanese maple. Whether they are planted in soil or a container they can steal the show. They have varied colored leaves including purple, red, gold, and shades of green including lime. In the fall, the colors change to shades of rust, gold and brown. Japanese maple need to be grown in partly shaded, wind protected areas. The soil supporting these trees should hold moisture, but drain quickly. If choosing a plant for a container, choose one that will remain small.
Years ago the Solano Master Gardeners toured the Aaron acreage on top of Mt. Veeder in Napa. We went to see the large display of camellias and were not prepared to see the numerous Japanese Maples in multitudes of colors meandering over the 16 acres. Many thrived under huge, old oak trees; others surrounded the house and property. A beautiful site to see.
Japanese maples do not require pruning. You can shape them, remove crossing or dead branches, but that is about it. A commercial property in Vacaville planted six Japanese maples in front of the building several years ago. The grounds maintenance crew “pruned” them in the fall and the trees have grown back looking like topiary balls. It’s hard to identify what type of trees were originally planted as they no longer resemble gracefully flowing Japanese maples. Incorrect pruning changed that forever.
Formerly known as a Japanese maple. photo by Sharon Rico
Naturally-shaped maple. photo by Dave Hutson
What a Japanese maple should look like in it's natural form. (photo by Sharon Rico)
Poorly pruned Japanese maple. This pruner needs to be educated! (photo by Sharon Rico)
Honey Bees on Japanese Maple?
Honey bees favor assorted plants, including lavenders, mints, salvias, asters, borage, wild roses,...
Honey bee foraging on a Japanese maple. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of honey bee foraging on a Japanese maple. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)