How to Fertilize a Japanese Maple Tree

Overview

Japanese maple is one of the most beautiful trees one can grow in a home garden. The leaves of the Japanese maple are delicate and change color to a startling red in the fall. They are not only a lovely addition to a home garden, they also add value to your home. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, they grow in many different climates. Care for these trees is quite easy, including fertilizing Japanese maples.

Step 1

Fertilize Japanese maple in the early spring after the first shoots of growth have appeared. This will give the tree a head start in growing throughout the year. Fertilize Japanese maple once a year while the tree is between 2 and 6 years old. Once it is more than 6 years old, fertilize it every other year.

Step 2

Apply a slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer at the base of the Japanese maple. Sprinkle the mixture on the ground from the trunk of the tree out to where the tips of the leaves shade the ground. Apply about a cup of fertilizer while the tree is 2 to 6 years old. Beyond that age, apply two cups of fertilizer.

Step 3

Water the Japanese maple after you fertilize it so the fertilizer can sink into the roots. Water the tree as normal.