The Japanese cedar does not require extensive care. We will show you what you should still bear in mind so that the Japanese cedar thrives well.
Many plant lovers and hobby gardeners consider the Japanese cedar tree to be a very special conifer that provides shade and wood. Among other things, it is popular because it grows very quickly and can therefore be used as a privacy screen without long waiting times if pruned correctly. Native to Japan and China, the tree yields a cone-shaped crown that, almost unpruned, provides good symmetry and is therefore hardly any work. In Europe, with proper care, the conifer can grow up to 20 meters high, but subspecies of Cryptomeria Japonica also remain significantly smaller. But how exactly do you have to take care of the Japanese cedar in order to be able to enjoy it in all its glory?
Japanese cedar - short profile
The Japanese cedar is considered a typical forest tree and accounts for the largest part of the forest stands in Japan. It does well in very humid areas that receive a lot of rainfall and don't get too cold in winter. The coniferous fir does not tolerate too much sun, but a mediocrity of sun hardly harms the tree in a sheltered place. It is important to know that the Japanese cedar should not be planted in nutrient-rich soil. Because this tempts the roots not to penetrate deeply into the soil and hardly to strengthen themselves, since nutrients are to be had practically in abundance. In strong winds, this could result in the cedar tree being lifted out of the ground along with its roots, which can be dangerous for neighbors and the owner himself - but also for passing motorists. It is therefore better to only settle the Japanese cedar in less nutrient-rich areas so that their roots spread as deep and strong as possible. So you not only have something of your crop for longer, but you are also safer in your own garden. Only waterlogging is to be avoided with the Japanese sickle fir, so that the roots are not impaired in their development.
Here you can get an overview of the most important onesJapanese Conifer Care Needs:- a lot of watering when there is no precipitation - even in winter
- Protect as much as possible from sunburn in all seasons, water only in the morning
- Circumcision possible, note cuts
- Protect young plants adequately during the winter
- Fertilize adult plants once a year
Caring for Japanese cedar trees
If you want to properly care for the Japanese cedar all year round, you should know how often and to what extent it needs to be watered and whether it needs any additional water apart from rain and snow. In addition to watering, fertilizing and supplying nutrients are also part of the care. With the Japanese sickle fir, however, this measure is not absolutely necessary. Pruning is also a maintenance ritual that may be necessary for some plants, especially if they are growing very quickly. Of course, you should also know how to keep the Japanese sickle fir properly and how you can or must help it over the winter.
❶ Pouring Japanese cedar
It is important for the Japanese sickle fir that it is always kept moist. So, in case of heavy rainfall, the gardener does not have to water. In drier times and especially in summer, however, it is important to supply the coniferous tree regularly and sufficiently with water. The prerequisite here is that the moisture does not become waterlogged, which could attack the roots. Therefore, the soil around the cedar should be loosened up with a rake from time to time. It is important to ensure that the soil around the conifer never dries out - because this would also dry out the root ball and the cedar might die.
In the case of the Japanese cedar, care must also be taken to ensure that the needles are not burned by the sun. Because excessive heat is not good for the ombrophilic (i.e. moisture-loving) plant, which otherwise lives in rather harsh weather areas. So if you water the coniferous tree, you should make sure that you only wet the lower part of the trunk so that the water does not burn the parts of the plant in the sun. It is also important that the fir gets a little shade and is planted in a more sheltered place.
❷ Fertilize Japanese cedar
In general, the Japanese cedar thrives and takes root better when it is young if it is in nutrient-poor soil. Therefore, after planting, you should largely avoid fertilizer and use humus-rich soil. isHowever, if the tree is larger and has its roots well distributed, i.e. if it has a stable stand, it can be lightly fertilized once a year. A little compost is enough to provide the soil with the nutrients the tree needs.
When fertilizing, it should be noted that fertilizing should be done at best at the end of September, but especially not right before the winter months. After all, the tree should prepare itself for the winter and sub-zero temperatures in the autumn months and should no longer be stimulated to grow and spread.
❸ How to cut Japanese cedar
One thing is certain: the Japanese cedar grows and thrives quickly. It can gain up to 80cm in height per year, depending on its subspecies. Therefore, the gardener may find it necessary to shorten the cedar a bit, to shape it or to remove crooked branches entirely. In fact, a Japanese cedar behaves similarly to a conventional garden hedge: it can and may well be trimmed to promote a certain shape, density and straight growth.
If you want to dare to cut it, you should choose late summer when the heat is not too strong and some days are a bit cloudy. If you want, you can completely remove dead and unhe althy-looking branches, but also shoots and twigs that are growing unfavorably. The gardener can also change the length, but the pruning should not be too radical. One should bear in mind that all cuts should run as diagonally as possible so that moisture can run off and does not collect in it - otherwise the cut or the trunk could rot.
If you want to remove particularly long and thick branches, you should work your way from the outside inwards. This means the branch should be removed piecemeal, making the job safer and easier too. If you have reached a smaller stump and you want to remove this as well, it is important not to damage the astringer. This should therefore be cut off or sawn from below, if possible, not from above.❹ Overwinter Japanese cedar
If a Japanese cedar is mature enough and has formed enough roots, i.e. has a firm footing, it can easily overwinter without requiring any help. However, self-grown young plants should only be planted after they are two years old and should be protected outdoors in the first winter. fleece and brushwood should be inbe used in this case to protect the trunk and the area of the root system from frost. The branches and crown, on the other hand, benefit from jute as a protective layer. Once the plant has survived its first winter, no further protective measures are usually necessary.
Our tip: If you have planted the Japanese cedar as a bonsai, it can also spend the winter outdoors, provided it is adequately protected. The container in which the plant is located can be wrapped in fleece and jute, or placed in a larger pot with sand to keep the roots a little warm. The soil surrounding the seedling can be covered with foliage to encourage this effect.
It is also important that the Japanese cedar is watered regularly on frost-free days in winter, as it can also lose water through evaporation in winter.