Matt and Tim Nichols have an exotic occupation. The brothers are co-owners of a Japanese maple-tree business, Mr. Maple, located in East Flat Rock in Henderson County, and every day the two are elbow-deep in caring for these graceful, vibrant specimens.
Their small-town nursery has grown into a remarkable business. The two-acre plot houses more than 1,000 cultivars of Japanese maples, making it the largest collection in the nation, and one of the largest in the world. Their immense supply and expertise in the field is sought from around the globe, too, bringing international recognition to themselves and their hometown.
Smaller than native maples, with sharp attenuated leaves, Japanese maples are natural ornamentals. Largely known for their magnificent fall coloring and minimal care, they’re a popular autumn garden accent.
Here, the Nichols brothers give us their expert tips for growing these gorgeous trees in a Carolina garden.
Carolina Home + Garden: What should gardeners know about Japanese maples in fall?
Tim: That it’s a great time to plant one! The cool temps in the fall mean they require little watering and planting during this season, and it allows the roots to get established over the winter months. Forget pumpkin-flavored everything … fall is Japanese maple season. It’s also the ideal time for enjoying their beauty. The red, orange, and yellow foliage make an amazing display.
What are the best for fall coloring?
Matt: There are many, so it’s hard to choose, but for yellow, we’d suggest the “Sango Kaku,” which has a bright-red coral bark. The brilliant yellow fall color on the leaves against the red coral bark is striking in an autumn garden.
For orange coloring, “Emmett’s Pumpkin” is a great choice. Like the name suggests, it turns to a bright pumpkin orange with flashes of red in the fall. The leaves of “Emmett’s Pumpkin” are quite large, sometimes reaching over 7-8 inches in length on a mature tree, giving a much larger leaf to show off fall color.
For red coloring, our favorite is the “Emperor One,” which flushes out with bright, intense red foliage, and then deepens to maroons throughout the summer. It is frost-resistant, extremely heat tolerant, and exceptionally beautiful.
What can gardeners do to prep for planting?
Matt: Japanese maples are one of the easiest plants to grow. They have a non-invasive root system that makes them ideal for container growing and bonsai culture, but are also easy to incorporate into the landscape. One of the most important things to remember is that Japanese maples do not like wet feet. Whether planting in a container or soil, the primary thing to look for is good drainage. Also, when planting, be sure to dig the hole 1.5 times bigger than the container from which your Japanese maple came. This will loosen the soil around the roots and allow it to get established more quickly.
Sun vs. shade: what’s the ruling?
Tim: All Japanese maples grow well in early-morning sun with late-day shade. Shade is not an issue for maples, as they are typically an understory tree in their native habitat. That being said, there are several great selections that can go in full sun and thrive.
What type of soil and landscape is best?
Matt: They are extremely adaptive and grow in most soils, but they shouldn’t be in a place that’s boggy or continually wet. Well-drained, slightly acidic soil is best. We grow our maples in a pine bark, Perlite, and peat-moss mix for containers, as this type of mix is extremely well draining. This causes the maple roots to expand and grow quickly as they go through the process of being watered to drying out.
What’s a typical schedule of care?
Tim: They need very little maintenance, mostly just watering and trimming. Don’t be afraid to trim. They key is to do it at the right time. Pruning should be done in early spring before the tree leafs out. Mid to late March is typically perfect for our region. Once a Japanese maple gets established, it’s extremely resilient, and often requires little to no care.
Have any stories of interesting customers?
Tim: Most of the time, we’ve talked extensively with our customers through the buying process and we build a relationship with them. However, sometimes you have those quick interactions with people, and those can be entertaining. One man came up to us at a garden show and accidentally said he was building an erotic garden, instead of exotic. To that, Matt quickly quipped, “At least it’s in your backyard!” Another time, a 90-year-old woman had me bend down to pick up a tree, just so she could pinch my butt. When I turned around, she said, “I still got it!” It was hilarious!
Mr. Maple is located at 107 Maplewood Knoll Drive in East Flat Rock. Call Matt at 828-226-5684, Tim at 828-551-6739, or e-mail the brothers at info@mrmaple.com. www.mrmaple.com.