Some of you know that Dallas County Master Gardeners has been holding Japanese maple sales once or twice a year as fundraisers. The trees have always sold out almost as soon as they were posted for sale and this time, we will only have 100 trees available. Unlike in past sales, there will not be any one-gallon sizes offered, but instead all the trees will be two-gallon ($45) and/or three-gallon ($57) sizes. This gives buyers a head start in the growing process. Still, these are small trees, and most will do well in a container until you find a place for them in your garden. Many of them would be perfectly happy in a container for several years.

We are offering an exciting and unusual variety of trees, from small trees like the tiny Mino Yatsubusa Trident maple, a rare dwarf tree that will only reach 2-3 feet tall in ten years, or the Shaina that will reach five feet tall. Every garden has room for one of these beauties, and because they prefer afternoon shade, they are a wonderful understory plant. Of the trees listed for sale, some that will grow large are the Acer palmatum seedling, the Shantung, and the Arakawa. All three of these can be expected to reach 25 feet at maturity and will make nice shade trees.

For gardeners who are not totally familiar with Japanese maples, they do not all have red leaves. There are well over a thousand varieties, and many of them have green leaves throughout the summer; however, almost every Japanese maple has beautiful spring and fall colors of red, gold, orange, or burgundy, and what a vibrant show they provide.

Trees with lacy leaves that are being offered through this sale are Orangeola, Seiryu, and Emerald lace. Seiryu is the only upright Japanese maple with lacy leaves. All other lace-leaf trees grow in more of a weeping form. In contrast to lacy leaves, the Saoshika has interesting star-shaped leaves that are quite eye catching. It is a green-leaf tree that has a glorious golden yellow fall color.

To plant your new tree in the garden, read the label for sun tolerance, but most will need afternoon shade and many will even succeed in full shade. Japanese maples adapt to most soil types, but adding a little shredded pine bark mulch will assist in good drainage. Water regularly so the soil is moist but never soggy. They do not like soggy roots. When transplanting from one pot to another, only go up one pot size and use a well-draining soil. Again, amending the soil with shredded pine bark is helpful. Do not use fertilizer on your new tree.

When the Japanese Maple sale opens purchases can be made via SignUpGenius, which can be accessed here:  bit.ly/2025dcmg .There you can sign up to choose and pay for up to four trees. The link goes active at 8 a.m. on October 5^th and continues until October 12^th at 5 p.m., or until all trees have been sold. Pick up will be October 25th from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the home of Cindy Bolz, 3015 Randy Lane, Farmers Branch. PLEASE NOTE: Trees not picked up during the pickup window will be donated to Dallas County Master Gardener Association, no exceptions.