The unexpected joy of growing Japanese Maple

I planted Japanese Maple without expecting much and it's become one of the most satisfying things in my garden. significant impact on the microclimate and character of a garden is something I couldn't have predicted from looking at it in a nursery. You only understand it once the plant is established and performing.

I keep it in a small garden with a compact or columnar variety chosen for scale which is perfect for it. formative pruning in the first five years to build a clear leader was the thing I got lucky getting right early. bare winter silhouette revealing branch structure and bark stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw it. honey fungus affecting roots especially on stressed trees is a real thing — just check regularly and deal with it quickly.