hi sue I don't know how u would love to arrange them after u have grown them for 3 years in the flower bed, but I suppose it would be better to put them straight to the ground, otherwhise after 3 years you may find a mess of roots all tied toghether and it would be hard to separate the plants without any risk of damage for the plants themselves and a big pruning of the branches compared to the root mass left.
so if u want your plants to grow faster and better it would be better to plant them outside in the ground or if u don't want this suddenly than grow each plant in one single pot wait 3 years and than put them in the ground.
I am fashinated by corallinum or benitsukasa...
for the colour of their leaves throu the year and in spring expecially.
cheers
Marco

Yes, I read those trees are beautiful, but that corallinum
is hard to grow. What color are Beni tsukasa's leaves in spring?
I also have read you can plant trees in a peach basket (or similar container) then put in the ground and see if the tree flourishes in that spot -which I suppose would prevent the roots from getting tangled and make them easy to replant. Thanx for the info!

Sue,

I would plant them in a pot in the ground, but I would try and cut out the majority of the pottom of the pots to prevent drianage issues. You could also just use a barrier in the ground to contain the roots, somethen similar to what they use with bamboo. This will keep the roots contained and make it easier to dig them up. If you don't want to do this, spacing them about 3 ft apart will be just fine. You root growth will minimal the first year and only slightly greater the second year. Things really start to pick up the 3rd year. I have dug many two year trees in the ground and usually only find a moderate amount of root growth. Those 4" pots are darn small, so they will need special care and attention when planted right away.

Depending on which form of Osakazuki you get, it actually can have awesome spring color. Beni tsukasa is great, but can be suject to spring frost damage but is more vigorous than Corallinum. Shindeshojo or Beni miako would also be good choices.

Let me think on it somemore. Do you want a red or green leaf plant, As all of your choices to this point are more or less green.

MJH

Thanks for all the info!! Last year I bought a 5 ft.Bloodgood from Home Depot and a 20"' Boskoop Glory from Lowes. I really like the Boskoop with the new leaves coming out red contrasting against the other foliage.

Last nite I purchased 4" pot each of Beni Maiko & Shindeshojo (so glad to hear you like them!!) also 2-yr. Oridono Nishiki from World Plants. They are supposed to ship in April. But we have frosts till May 10 around here. Should they be kept indoors in the pots for a month?

I know the 4"pots will be teensy-weensy but I have read these maples grow rather quickly the first few years; however by your email it sounds more like they do the sleep-creep-leap progression like perennials. Alas, I can't afford larger ones - and if I kill them it won't be a great financial disaster.

But I don't know what special care they will be needing in the ground, though. I could keep them in containers for a year if they're probably going to croak at 4" pot size.

About Osakazuki - I wish I did know what form I'm getting!!! I have read the Osakazuki for sale now is different than the original kind that came from Japan.

When you get your plants from World Plants, they will have leaves. What I would do is I would put the 4" pot in another pot, like a one or two gallon and insulate the the 4" pot inside the larger pot with bark. Since they have leaves, they will need sun, so you can move them into a garage at night or put them in a sheltered area like a porch or something of that nature to protect the foliage. A frost will not hurt the leaves on those varieties for the most part, a freeze will.

When it gets warm enought, I would use the pot in the ground method, paying special attention to drainage. Do not fertilize this year but use a well draining potting soil to provide nutrients. If you have something like 0-10-10 you can give a small does of this in the spring and fall. The 0-10-10 should contain 6-10% calcium so you will not be able to use the organic formulas derived from fish. It will also have 2-3% Sulfer. Keep an eye out for stress, this being burned leaves or dieback. Should this happen, I would lift the plant from the pot and inspect the roots.

Be patient with them. The 4" pots can be hard to grow if we try to force them. They have to be left to their own devices for a year or two. That 4" pot will not make a good one gallon for at least 2 full seasons. After that point, it could be bumped to a 5gal. It is at this time, when you have the solid 1gal root system that you can consider putting it in the ground. Provided you do not have any setbacks, after a year in the ground, you can consider a little nitrogen in the spring. Something like 6-12-6 granular immediate release. I would continue the 0-10-10 in the fall indefinately.

I hope that will get you started. Your patience will pay off---it just takes a while.

MJH

Just one correction/addition. I think your plants will have leaves when you get them--I don't remember how World Plants grafts arrive in the spring. If they don't have leaves, then you can leave them outside in the insulated pot or plant them with the pot in the ground method right away. If a hard frost is expect, cover with burlap or protect in that manner.

MJH