How To Plant Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide, place in hole and backfill halfway with soil. if you avoid freezing and hot temperatures you can plant your maple almost any time of the year.

How Fast Does This Tree Grow?

Expect a bloodgood to grow 1-2 feet per year up to a mature height of 15-20 feet. Space 15-2- feet apart to avoid canopies overcrowding eachother.

How Far From The House Can I Plant This Maple?

The root system on this tree is not known to be invasive so there are no worries for structural damages. Space atleast 15 feet from the home to accomodate a 15-20 spread at maturity.

When planting your Bloodgood Japanese Maple be sure you have the right location and conditions for your new tree to thrive.  Spring and Fall are ideal times to plant.  However, if you avoid freezing and hot temperatures you can plant your Maple almost any time of the year.  

Bloodgood Japanese Maples tolerate full sun to part shade. Bloodgoods are one of the few Japanese Maples that tolerates full sun even in warmer zones. Like other Japanese maples you may see some leaf scorch when they are young, especially if they are not getting adequate water.  Keep your tree watered if you do notice leaf scorch, but don't panic.  Leaf Scorch is not going to affect the overall health of your tree.  Japanese Maples prefer soil that is well-drained, but moist, neutral to slightly acidic, and nutrient rich.  However, Japanese Maples will adapt to a variety of soils.  Mulching will keep the roots moist and protect them from extreme temperatures in winter.  Add a layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch.  Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk as this increases the chances of pests and disease.  Japanese Maples should be watered often enough to keep the soil moist.  Do not allow the the soil to dry completely or be overly saturated.  Either condition can harm a Japanese Maple.  Fertilize in early spring and when planting to give your tree a boost. Choose a slow release fertilizer.  When planting take care not to burn the roots by mixing the fertilizer into the soil before placing your tree in the hole. Japanese Maples don't generally require pruning, but, if needed, prune when they are dormant to remove any dead, dying, or crowded branches, or to maintain shape. Learn more on how to prune Japanese Maples. 

The best way to prevent disease and pests is by providing the appropriate care for your plants.  Proper location choice, watering, and fertilization are the keys to your success. Scale, Mites, and Aphid are insects that can occasionally affect Bloodgood Japanese Maples. You can treat these pests naturally with horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap.  For severe infections you can use pesticides like carbaryl, also known as Sevin. Another potential pest of Japanese Maples is the Japanese Beetle. Look into parasitic nematodes and bacillus thuringiensis for effective, organic control of this pest. For better pest control consider growing Japanese Maples in pots.

Bloodgood Japanese Maples are suitable for small spaces. They can be planted near other trees or shrubs but are amazing as specimen trees.  If you have an area that could use some height, plant your Bloodgood in the middle.  Then add some yellow or blue shrubs under and around your center piece.  Check out our landscape section for design ideas using Japanese Maple Trees.

For additional options, be sure to browse our Dwarf Tree and Japanese Maple collection.