Solar energy is the factor that allows plants to develop. Different plants have adapted to it in different ways.
QUICK ANSWER: The Japanese maple needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. With this sun exposure, you can count on bright leaf color, a dense crown, and vigorous growth.
Read also: How to Plant and Care for Japanese Maple Trees.
Sunlight requirements
Generally speaking, it is better for Japanese maple to get direct sun in the morning. In the afternoon, it is better to keep it in the shade.
Depending on the variety and climatic zone, the sun hours should be 6 to 8. In the north, the maple can easily get 8 hours or even more. At the same time, in zone 9, it is better for a Japanese maple to receive no more than 6 hours of direct sunlight.
To be more specific, each variety has different sunlight requirements. You have to study the maple you want to buy and figure out where to put it in your yard.
Too much sun
There may be cases when the sun does cause damage to a maple. This can happen in the extreme heat of zones 8-9. If your maple gets sunburned, the first thing to do is to water it with a few gallons of water.
Next, place a shade over the tree. If the tree is small, you can do this by placing a garden umbrella. You need to make a frame and put shade netting over larger specimens.
Also, mulch the root zone with a layer at least 2-3 inches thick.
If sunburn recurs then you need to transplant the maple to a place with some shade.
Newly planted maples are also very susceptible to sun damage. This is due to the fact that their root system is not yet developed and is not able to supply water to the leaves quickly. As a result, the leaf edge turns brown.
To remedy this, make sure to shade the tree in the first year after planting. Water the newly planted Japanese maple as soon as the soil is 1-2 inches dry and mulch it.
Not enough sun
Japanese maples are shade-tolerant trees. In their native environment, they very often grow in the shade of large trees without much trouble.
Therefore, there should be no serious consequences of the Japanese maple not getting direct sun. The crown of such a maple may not be very dense, but it will grow normally overall.
However, in full shade, some varieties may have less bright leaves. This does not apply to green Japanese maples but to red or burgundy.
The leaves not only may not have their natural color but may also be very light.
If your maple is growing in the shade, you should definitely make sure that it gets enough reflected light or some direct light.
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