June 13, 2013
Q. I'd like to plant a Bloodgood Japanese red maple in one of the corners of my yard. I have a fenced-in yard that gets lots of sunshine. How far from the fence should it be placed?

A. Bloodgood Japanese red maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood') is a beautiful tree, and is known as the best for reddish purple leaf colour retention. It is a slow-growing, small round-headed tree, reaching 15 to 20 feet in height with excellent red fall colour. Ideally, the tree should be planted in dappled shade, as it dislikes the summer sun.

Supplemental moisture and mulch should be provided and the tree planted in moist well-drained soil with high organic matter. It should be protected from sweeping winds and late spring frosts, as young foliage is sensitive to the cold. As the spread of the tree is equal or greater than the height, it should be planted at least 10 feet from the fence. This may seem a lot while your tree is small, but it will eventually fill the space allotted.

I do hope that this information has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information.

June Streadwick,
zone director,
Master Gardeners of Ontario



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