If you have enough space to do so, I highly recommend planting a tree, or maybe two. They are a great way to enhance your garden and help the planet at the same time.
All trees are wonderful, but some are more suited to urban gardens than others. For example, a small Japanese tree is not going to overwhelm everything and cast such a big shadow, which can make it hard to grow other plants. The opposite in fact, you can use these trees to draw the eye and show off everything growing nearby. While, the soft dappled shaded areas they create can be a wonderful spot to grow delicate plants that cannot cope with direct sunlight.
There are several classes of small Japanese trees for you to choose between. But, today, I am going to tell you a little more about Japanese Maples and suggest some ways you could use them in your garden.
For small gardens
If you do not have a lot of space, Japanese Maples are ideal. There are several varieties that will reach about 15ft and when the pace of growth slows considerably. Eventually, over the course of many years, they will reach a height of 20ft. But, in most cases, that is still small enough not to overwhelm the space.
They are great for creating a striking centerpiece, especially if you choose the type that produces bright foliage. At night, this type of tree will look spectacular if you light it up. To do this, you can either use an up lighter or a floodlight.
Maples for a patio
If you only have a patio, potentially, you can still enjoy having a Japanese maple. However, as you would expect, you will need to choose one of the smaller varieties. These are the ones that will grow best in pots or containers. You will need a pot that is at least twice the size of your tree's roots. So, you need to take that into consideration when choosing which one you buy.
Bonsai maples
In fact, if all you have is the space for a table and a couple of chairs you could still own a maple tree. It is now possible to buy bonsai versions of these wonderful trees. They take a fair amount of looking after and you will need to make sure that they do not get exposed to extreme weather conditions. But, they do look lovely if you take care of them.
For big gardens
If you have a big garden that already has lots of trees in it you may want to create a bit of an under storey effect. Quite a few varieties of Japanese maples cope just fine with being planted close to bigger trees. If you are planting them beneath evergreen trees be sure to only do so if they will be north or east-facing. That will ensure that your maples get enough light to be able to thrive. They will not do well if you try to grow then an area of dense shadow.
As you can see, Japanese maples are amazingly versatile trees. So, they are really worth looking at if you want to plant a tree in your garden.
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