Step-by-Step Guide: Transplanting a Japanese Maple Like a Pro
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- čas přidán 20. 01. 2023
- Welcome back to our channel! As a DIY couple, we're always looking for ways to improve our garden, and today we're excited to share our latest project with you: transplanting a beautiful Japanese Maple tree. In this video, we'll take you through the process step-by-step, from preparing the tree for transplanting to ensuring its health and vitality after the move.
Although we filmed during the winter dormancy period, there was some wind noise in the audio that we apologize for. Nonetheless, we're confident that the information we provide will be valuable to anyone who's considering transplanting a Japanese Maple.
As always, we appreciate your support and feedback. If you find this video helpful or interesting, please like, comment, and share it with others who might enjoy it too. And don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more DIY projects and gardening tips!
Let the addition begin!! Woo hoo! ❤
Thanks! Definitely! 🙂
Fun video! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more from you guys. 😎👍🌲🍁
Thanks! We're working on the next video now! 🙂
Thanks for the episode! I may need to move a fairly large Viridis Japanese maple in the future and this was very helpful. Always enjoy your content!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful! If you can, wait until the tree is dormant (Fall, Winter, or just before it leafs out) to move the tree. Good luck!
Always enjoy each of your posts. I also use the website to walk myself through your house re-do, which I have not finished yet.
Thank you!! At some point, we need to make a walk-through video of everything we’ve updated in our house 🙂
@@buildingmodern that would be fantastic!
Great demo. Please post an update when it comes out of dormancy. I have a Bloodgood that is about 8 years old. It's been in a whiskey barrel for a long time, too long. I want to transplant in the next week before it comes out of dormancy. It has been rootbound for years and struggles terribly. It looks gorgeous every spring for about a month. Then the leaves slowly turn crispy and it drops all it's leaves slowly. I know some roots will need to be sacrificed, and expect it to be girdled at the base.
Thanks! Now is definitely the time to transplant (if you’re in a colder zone where the ground freezes, wait until just before it comes out of dormancy when the buds have started to swell). You definitely might have to tease / cut some of the circling roots. I’ve found it easiest to put the entire root ball under water for 10-20 minutes (I use a 5g bucket or a wheelbarrow to hold the water). Once drenched for a little bit, it’s a good bit easier to tease out the roots. The most important part - make sure the roots don’t dry while working on them - dunk regularly until ready to plant. Also, definitely dig the hole it’s going to before even starting to work on the roots.
Once it’s in the ground, it should definitely be able to tolerate the sun a bit more.
Side note - if you’re looking for a showstopper similar to bloodgood that can take an unexpectedly high amount of sun, look into the Purple Ghost Japanese Maple. It’s a real showstopper and tolerates ~9-10 hours of full sun for us.
Good luck! Share with us once it works out! We’ll definitely do a spring tour this year once everything leafs out. We have a few other Japanese maples we’re moving as well. :)
@@buildingmodern Thanks so much for your guidance on this!
Great video, very helpful! This is my first year growing Japanese Maples, here in central Ohio 6B. It’s been a little tricky figuring out optimal planting spots in my yard. I planted a 1 gallon Amber Ghost in April under a big oak canopy. It’s healthy but just straight green and I think it needs more sun. I am planning to move it either this fall after leaf drop or in spring at bud break. I’d rather move it in late fall just to get it done sooner, but am wondering: is there much of an advantage to waiting until spring bud break instead? Since it’s such a young tree the roots are not well developed yet, and I think it will be pretty easy to move. Thanks for your advice!
Definitely move it in either Spring or late Winter (before it leafs out). Straight green means it likely needs a little more sun (4-6 hours morning sun is pretty ideal for it).
For the when - if your ground freezes, it’s better to wait until after the last major freeze (once the ground isn’t frozen). If your ground doesn’t freeze, any time when the leaves are off the tree is fine (try to hurt the roots as little as possible).
Cheers 🙂
Awesome -- I watch and feel like y'all know about Mr Maple (as a buying and maintaining resource) Brothers in Western NC...if not check 'em out . - and have you ever tried to do a bonsai?
Hello! Yep, we’ve known the Nichols for several years now. Great guys!
While we really appreciate bonsai, we’re not at a place to take it on. With our renovations & travels, bonsai takes a bit more daily care than we have the time to devote to it. We are in awe whenever we see old bonsai specimens - super neat! 🙂
Is it too late to move a 4 foot Japanese maple that is in southeastern Ohio? It has all it’s leaves on it already. It’s not door and I don’t think.
Yes, it’s too late to avoid damage. If it *has* to be moved now, dig wider and deeper than you think and try to avoid disturbing the roots as much as possible.
However, if it’s possible, it’s much better to wait for Fall - once all the leaves have fallen off the tree to move it. Second to that, the absolute best time to move it is after your ground has thawed, and the buds are beginning to swell (but haven’t leafed out yet).
@@buildingmodernOk thank you. The tree is about 4 foot tall right now. It might be too hard for me to move on my own anyhow. I just moved into a new house and someone planted one in a weird spot.
Hope it transplant well !
Thank you! We’ll post an update after it pushes out leaves later in the year 🙂