With summer rapidly approaching, young specimens of Weeping Japanese Maples are getting more difficult to find. So we decided to try an alternative: air layering a branch of a Bloodgood Japanese Maple from Kathy’s parents.

These are the instructions I followed. They use Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) as an example. Perfect: Layering Techniques

Tools:

• Bubble Wrap
• Peat Moss
• Root Stimulant
• Twist ties
• Some tapes

Steps:

1. soak peat moss
2. remove a ring of bark, ideally under a new branch
3. apply root stimulant to wound
4. fixate bubble wrap around wound with twist ties
5. insert soaked peat moss at the top
6. strengthen with tapes

Immediate result:

Let’s see how it turns out in a few months.