How to Plant Japanese Maple Trees in Kansas
- 1). Test the soil before planting the Japanese maple tree. A soil testing kit purchased from a garden center will help to determine the pH of your soil. Soil types vary in Kansas, so if your soil pH does not meet the requirements, you will need to amend.
- 2). Amend the soil with lime if the pH is below 5.5 or add peat moss for soil with a pH above 6.5. Break up the soil with a shovel or pitchfork; amend the soil afterward per lime or peat moss product label instructions.
- 3). Dig a hole for the Japanese maple tree to match the height of the tree's root ball, and twice its width. Remove the Japanese maple from its nursery container and set it in the center of the planting hole.
- 4). Backfill the hole halfway and moisten the soil with water from a garden hose to secure the roots. Continue backfilling, gently tamping the soil down with your foot afterward to remove air pockets.
- 5). Water the Japanese maple tree generously after planting. Use a soaker hose to supply the tree with at least 1 inch of water per week, maintaining damp soil at a 1 inch depth at all times. The average yearly rainfall in Kansas is approximately 37 inches, so the tree will require supplemental watering during dry periods once it is established.
- 6). Mulch around the Japanese maple with a 3 to 4 inch layer of bark chips, sawdust or straw. Mulching will help to improve water retention and reduce weed growth. A layer of mulch will also help to protect the roots from the hot Kansas summers and cold winters.
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