Acer palmatum 'Rhode Island Red'. A spectacular dwarf Japanese maple with dense, compact branching on an upright habit and a rounded, ovate crown. The stunning palmate foliage emerges red in spring and deepens as it ages. Cooler fall temperatures bring orange tones.
Feed with a balanced proprietary fertilizer in spring just as the leaves emerge. Repot every 3 – 4 years in spring well before the first new growth emerges, - this means effectively in February or early March.
Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Protect in winter in cold areas.
In the main acers do not need or like pruning. If any pruning is undertaken it should only be done to improve their overall shape and to encourage healthy growth. Young Japanese maples, for instance, often produce single new shoots in one direction which, if not cut back, will grow on to create an unbalanced plant. Tree acers require a good leading shoot. Species such as Acer davidii often lose their leader and produce two side shoots instead. It is best to cut out one of these side shoots so that the other will become the new leader. Pruning is best carried out when the sap is falling in late summer or autumn. Acer negundo varieties will produce better coloured young foliage in spring if the new growth is trimmed back in mid autumn.
A freeze will not harm maple trees when dormant, but during active growth it leads to leaf kill and branch dieback.
