Really Nice Japanese Maples – Crash Course On Grafting and Budding

By Duston On November 23, 2010
Posted in: Growing

People often get really confused when you start talking about grafted plants or budded plants.  They also get confused when they have plants in their landscape that start acting crazy and they don’t know why.  In this video I explain how and why plants produce suckers and why those suckers should be removed.  If they are coming from below the graft or bud union, then the suckers are coming from the rootstock, and the rootstock is not the desired variety.  I hope the video clears this up for you.  -Mike

29 Responses to “Really Nice Japanese Maples – Crash Course On Grafting and Budding”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Wow! Get a load of them roots. Great buy, Mike. Looking forward to some great deals on the Growers Message Board too.

  2. Janna Duckworth says:

    Mike,
    I had purchased two packages of seeds about 2-3 years ago…one was the Japanese Maple tree and one was the Japanese Laceleaf maple seeds..We talked about the fact that it might be hard to find the seedlings around here at a reasonable price. I put the seeds in the refrigerator as directed and then removed, placed in warm water as directed for a couple of days and planted in starter planting soil…I had several seeds and tried at various times, but I must’ve not been doing something right and they never got out of the seed stage…Is it possible to buy the “Japanese Laceleaf Maple Tree” as a seedling from you at the smaller price…of $1.35??? I cannot afford the $80.00 price at the local nurseries..And, I SOO want two in my yard or maybe more..I have tried and tried to get the seeds to work. I now have a mimosa tree, the smoke bush, the flaming bush, butterfly bush, and sweet shrub. I am lover of the rarer tress/bushes.
    Please advise where I can get from 1-5 seedlings at a reasonable price so that I can nurture them for my own landscaping use..
    Respectfully,
    Janna D

  3. Doug says:

    Very nice Mike good show, but I have heard not to use grafted plants with Japanese root stock. I have no idea why! Have you heard that?

  4. David R Cardenas says:

    Very nice article .. instructive and to the point.

  5. Blueskys says:

    I am like Mike, would be more interested in purchasing specialty Maples already grafted.

    Can we be privy on where to obtain plants like he gets for the prices he gets them for.

    I so want to start a backyard nursery and have been reading Mikes columns for a few years

    now. All I need it the time.

    • Kathy says:

      Once you purchase the Backyard Nursery Growing System you’ll be privy to all sorts of great wholesale sources for Japanese
      Maples and other plants. But we share those sources only with the folks who purchase the Backyard Nursery Growing System
      to learn how to start their own nurseries.

      Kathy Anderson
      Mike’s Assistant

      • Aaron says:

        Thanks Kathy. I’ll purchase the backyard Growing System soon. Could you ask Mike a question for me? I have access to about 1 acre of land in the foothills of the West North Carolina mountains. Some of it is cleared space but has 40 foot pines surounding it, and gets shady. Another area is completely out in the open with no shade. My question is will I be able to grow Japanese Maples there?

        • Kathy says:

          Hi Aaron, you sure can grow Japanese Maples on your shady WNC property! I moved to Western NC this past spring and I’ve got several Japanese Maples in my shady front yard, and I’ll be planting a few more come Spring. The nice thing about Japanese Maples is there are so many different varieties, and while many benefit from being in shade for at least part of the day, there are other varieties that do just as well with more sun. Since you have a little of both, I’d say your property is ideal for growing these trees. Hey, here’s an article that explains a bit more about growing Japanese Maples: http://freeplants.com/tips-for-growing-japanese-maples.html The second photo in the article is one of my own trees, and it gets afternoon shade.

          Kathy Anderson
          Mike’s Assistant

        • Mike says:

          Aaron, both sun and shade are beneficial when growing Japanese Maples. Young maples like some shade, more mature plants do great in full sun. And of course the weather in North Carolina would be ideal.

    • Aaron says:

      Blueskys, Did you get the info you asked about? I’d also like to start a backyard nursery, and I think the Japanese Maples may be the most profitable for me.

  6. Anthony Castiglia says:

    The video does not show how to actually graft the tree or what root stock to use. How about a video that show how Mike grafts and graft after care?

  7. f battista says:

    thanks mike for getting me started in a small nursery, have lots of small plants growing, plus dug several large trees and plants from other growers for pennies on a dollar so i can make a nice return on resale .

  8. Charles W. says:

    As far as I know. Mike has more knowledge of grafting JP’s than I do.

    I’ve bought both low and tall grafted trees. I prefer a low grafing for cascaders and weepers. A higher graft is okay for a more upright tree.

    As for the graft I believe the acer palmatum is the prefered graft because of it’s hardiness and strength. Mike feel free to correct me if I am mistaken.

    On that note Iv’e traveled to one far away nursery for a true low-grafted Acer Palmatum ” Green Filligree ” ( Looking for 5 years. In the 4th year ) I went to the non-mentioned nursery to find only a low-grafting but a high staking to 8ft tall.

    Plus they were trying to pass a A.P ” Viridis ” as a ” Green filligree.” A different cultivar lace-leafed Yes. Truly a low-grafted ( sorta ) but highly staked; and the wrong cultivar.

    I’m Sure Mike will let you know the complete difference of all 3. –MM.
    I am enjoying your newsletters Mike. Keep’em coming.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I am writing to you from India. Greatly enjoyed your talk. Wish you could come and spend time with us in our sunny climate. I have a lovely property up in the Himalaya where right now it has a lot of snow, but along with plenty of sunshine.

  10. Boyd says:

    Hey Mike!
    Talk about a sweet deal, definitely know how to do some horse trad-in.
    Oh well, have fun growing this season, you are in for some kinda show when the tree leafing
    starts, take some pictures for us.
    Thanks again,
    Boyd

  11. Cindy says:

    Hi Mike, love your site I wanted to know your ideas on waterlogged septic fields, been told not to plant on it, now I’m told to make a waterlogged garden to absorb the water. Thought I make a large garden on the grass with dahlias, so I can have a vase garden and easy removal in the fall, but would Rhodos be a good choice to absorb the water or what other low root bearing plants that absorb water without destroying the septic pipes 5′ under the grass. I thought I would hill it up using alot of peat moss. What do ya think? Look forward to your suggestions. Cindy

  12. George Pancio says:

    Mike,I was impressed with your recent purchase of Japanese Maple trees you purchased for around $6.50 each and buy a few of them from you if you are interested in selling a couple.

    I think I would like to buy the verigated leaf version if you would please contact me at …mrsanta@roadrunner.com

  13. Anonymous says:

    hi mike!! your postings sound good , in theory but,,,,,,,,,, i live in a house in the middle of CORN-FIELDS !! i cant plant anything that the BUGS wont E A T !!!!!!!

  14. Holly says:

    Hey Mike,

    I have some Japanese Maples that I got from one tree. I love that fact. However, I do not love that the trees continue to grow up from the root all over my flower bed and yard. I have cut them back and sprayed sealer on where I have cut them. Is there a better way to do this? I have trees growing everywhere! Thanks,

  15. terry ;i,[loms says:

    MIke, would you know by chance how come a sweet shubbery doesnt smell. it produces quite a few flowers every years but after nine or ten years the blooms still doesnt smell.. thanks for every thing.. terry

  16. Ashenafi says:

    Hey mike
    I am realy happy by what am seen .but it didn’t show how to girafted just it is simply as explanation pleas try to show as also how to girafted step by step.thanks mike.

  17. Hi Mike, I’ll call you on Monday to buy your book. I am into fruit trees and veggie for now, we are living off the land. Can we do some grafting or budding at this time of the year? I live in Saint Augustine, Florida
    Thank you

  18. B W says:

    Great video on Japanese Maples but when do you graft them and how do you know what root stocks will give you dwarf trees? I do some grafting but don’t know the proper times for trees other than fruit trees. Also would like to see a good video on bud grafting. Thanks. Keep up the good work.

  19. Karen says:

    Hi Mike: Loved your grafting video, my question to you is: I have a Japanese Maple fully grown but lost a branch off of it a couple years ago, can I graft a new branch where we lost the one the same way?

    • Mike says:

      Karen, I guess that really depends on where you live. I know in warmer states like Tenn they do chip budding in the field, during the sumemr months. But I really don’t know much about that. In most cases the graft really needs to be treated special with plenty of heat and humidity but the scion needs to be dormant when you start the process.

      I’ve lost branches on weeping Japanese maples before and just cut out the dead branch. In a year or two they usually fill in nicely.

  20. Patty says:

    I’ve recently had to re-route the water line in my front yard and in the process, the trenching machine stopped right beside my beautiful laceleaf Japanese Maple. The exhaust pipe burned the leaves on several branches. The branches are still pliable but the leaves are all curled up and dry. What should I do?

  21. shlomi says:

    hi mike is your contact that you have for the Japanese Maple tree ,are they deliver to Australia? not sure if it is possible to import to australia , thanks shlomi

    • Mike says:

      Shlomi, It is possible to ship plants across international borders, but in most cases it’s not practical and most plant sellers won’t do it because it takes them to much time and effort to get the orders out. It’s much easier for them to sell them in the states. But I do have members in Australia that are doing quite well with plants that are native to the country. http://freeplants.com/wanted.htm

  22. Dana harness says:

    thank again MIKE sorry it been so long we been sick here we got 5 JM so far in my garden

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