Q:
I dug a 12-year-old Japanese Maple tree from the Washougal, Washington area in the snow and took it to Sherwood Oregon. I transplanted it in a brown and grey clay soil mixed with a 3-way soil mix (topsoil, sand and compost) and some of the dirt from the tree's original location.
I would like recommendations for caring for my new tree and guidance on how to fertilize it.
A:
Thank you for your question! Here are some tips for taking care of your transplant:
- Keep grass and weeds from competing with your maple. Remove all grass and weeds under the tree canopy. COnsider adding a 3-4 inch layer of organic mulch spread over the tree's root system to help conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature and prevent weeds. Keep mulch about 6 inches away from the tree trunk.
- Avoid over-fertilizing. Most publications will recommend not to fertilize the new transplant for several years and to not mix fertilizer with the soil used because this practice can lead to root damage. However, adding a low amount of a low-nitrogen fertilizer and root stimulator during planting will help nourish the tree and aid in survival.
- Water the tree thoroughly after planting. Drip water slowly into the basin, refilling as it seeps through until water is left standing on the surface. Repeat twice in the first week. From that time on, water when the soil is dry 3 to 4 inches below the surface. Absent significant rainfall, deep-water the soil around the maple's roots around twice a month.
- Orient the tree as it was growing in the previous location. Fill the hole with the extracted soil to the same level on the trunk of the maple as in its prior location.
Related content
Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension:
Flowers, shrubs and trees
