How to Care for Garnet Lace Leaf Japanese Maples

The Garnet Japanese maple is a cultivated variety of the lace leaf maple tree that's similar to the Crimson Queen and Ever Red varieties. Garnet Japanese maples are heat tolerant and can tolerate winter temperatures down to about minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Like the Crimson Queen variety, the Garnet grows to about 4 to 5 feet tall in 10 years. You can grow Garnet Japanese maple trees easily if you live in the right climatic region and provide the appropriate care.

Organic mulch

Pruning tools

Light blanket or tarp

Plant your Garnet Japanese maple tree in a spot that has filtered sunlight, such as beneath a much taller tree. Select a planting site that has slightly acidic, well-draining and fertile soil. Planting your Garnet tree in the ideal site greatly reduces the care and maintenance demands.

Spread a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer of organic mulch on the ground around your Garnet Japanese maple tree to keep weeds at bay and regulate soil moisture. Spread the mulch so that it covers the entire root area of the tree.

Water your Garnet maple tree deeply once or twice per week during summer when conditions are dry and hot. Water thoroughly, providing water until the soil is moistened down to and around the entire root zone, preferably to a depth of about 12 inches.

Prune your Garnet Japanese maple in spring to remove any dead, weak or broken branches. Cut these branches back to the crotch at the trunk. You can also selectively prune branches to keep a desired shape or size of the tree.

Cover your Garnet Japanese maple tree with a light blanket or tarp when frosts or light freezes threaten in spring. Japanese maples tend to grow their leaves early in the growing season, so they're susceptible to injury from spring frosts. Cover the tree during the night and remove the covering in the morning when temperatures warm.

When you need to water your Garnet Japanese maple in dry spells during summer, you can ensure slow, deep watering by placing a hose beneath the tree canopy and allowing the water to trickle slowly until the topmost 1 foot of soil is moistened.

Beware of nutrient deficiencies in your Garnet Japanese maple tree, which can cause symptoms like yellowing leaves with darker-green leaf veins. Apply a balanced tree fertilizer labeled for Japanese maples, following the instructions on the label. A slow-release fertilizer formula applied once yearly in spring is usually appropriate. Manganese deficiencies are common in Japanese maples, especially those planted in alkaline soils. You can implant manganese capsules in the tree trunk according to the instructions on the label.

Watch out for insect pests like aphids, scales and borers infesting your Garnet Japanese maple tree. Also beware of diseases like verticillium wilt and tar spot. If you detect insects or disease symptoms on your Japanese maple, consult your local agricultural extension service to properly diagnose and treat the problem.