I just bought this tree Shaina yesterday. Beautiful tree! When i got the tree home, I noticed the trunk was slightly butter churning in the pot. How can stablize the tree and increase root strength at this time of the season? Should I stake the tree? Please help! Mike
krautz33, I wanted to give you some reply. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "butter churning"? I assume the tree is somewhat loose in the pot and it looks like you have buried the pot? I would try to firm up the tree within the pot by gently hand compressing in more good soil and then loosely staking the plant so the roots get stimulated by gentle sway without being wildly swayed. The tree looks very healthy and I love my 2 Shaina's so I wish you the best.
Right after the leaves drop*, give it a real good soaking, then in a day or so dig it back up, remove and discard the potting mix/field soil on the roots - being sure to keep them quite moist the whole time (plunging in a tub filled with water is what I often do) - and look for circling, kinked or j-roots. Replant in existing native soil with the roots spread out so that all are oriented away from the center of the tree. Chances are good it is floppy because it was grafted on a badly rootbound liner when small; if this is the case it may not be possible to open all of the roots up as there will probably be a fist of knotted roots right at the base of the trunk. This is a potentially fatal condition, the tree apt to girdle itself some years from now - unless the 'Shaina' scion becomes buried as the years go by and roots out on its own, eventually becoming independent of the rootstock. I don't know how likely a Japanese maple is to do this. *Or at end of winter, before bud break, if in USDA 5 or colder
Thank you for the help guys, I planted the tree. I'm keeping my figers crossed. I did go back to the nursery and ask them why this is happening. They told me it was to heavy to one side, and it toppled over in the pot. They said the root ball was still together when it toppled. Hopefully everything works out. The tree looks healthy and is putting out lots of new growth. I will keep you updated Mike
