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Gardening in Canada

Fertilizer for burgundy and variegated plants

13 years ago

I just got an Emperor of Japan Japanese Maple and will be preparing a spot to transplant it in the next few days. I'll be giving it some bonemeal and a good dose of fertilizer. One article I read suggested a high nitrogen fertilizer, but I'm afraid that that will result in less burgundy and more green color in the leaves.

I have an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple and various variegated shrubs that I've been fertilizing with a low nitrogen fertilizer in order to maintain their color and variegation. On the other hand, I feed my hostas high nitrogen and they've maintained their distinctive atributes.

What do you feed your Japanese Maples?

Comments (3)

ianna
13 years ago
simple -- compost, bonemeal and composted manure.

I'd rather not get my plants used to high dosage of nitogen because it makes them too reliant on fertilizers for nutrition.
dianasan
Original Author
13 years ago
Compost is a good idea, and I do also add composted manure at planting, but I do like to fertilize all my trees and shrubs at least monthly during the summer. I guess I'll just go with a 20-20-20.

Thanks.
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ianna
13 years ago
sure why not.

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