Bloodgood in a barrel?

Hi all, new to this forum (and gardening in general), usually hang out in "Tomatoes"...:) Anyway, I would like to plant a Bloodgood JM in my front yard. However, the area where I'd like to plant it has a big double arborvitae stump which I'd like to let rot instead of breaking my back digging it out. I was thinking of planting the Bloodgood in a half whiskey barrel for a couple of years, then transferring it to the ground once the stump has broken down a bit. My questions:
* Will Bloodgood do well in a half barrel for a few years and then survive transplanting?
* What potting soil should I use in the barrel? Growing instructions? (Is there a thread for this maybe?)
* Should I just suck it up, rent a stump grinder, and put the JM in the ground to start?
* Will a Bloodgood do OK in full sun in zone 6a, or should I consider another variety?

Thanks lots!!
pam

All japanese maples do well in containers so a barrel should be fine. I've used potting soil straight from the bag, sandy earth from my backyard, half and half, they are not too picky except for clay-dont plant in clay. If this is a young bloodgood I would recommend keeping it in a small pot for awhile. Bring it inside for the winter and for the hottest days of the summer. Find a shady spot with some wind screen.
Full sun depends on the plant and root size. Is this a 1 year plant? I think all jm's need some shade until they are hardened to the climate. Mail order plants seem to be the most tempermental. I would leave it in the pot it came in until fall and then examine the roots, trim them, and re pot.

Is there a particular reason you want a Bloodgood? They are so big and not really pot trees. You will eventually need to put it into the ground unless you are going to root prune and keep it small. Also, Bloodgoods are more sensitive to the sun than some similar trees that are not so big. Keeping a potted maple in full sun you are apt to get pretty bad leaf burn and may actually lose a lot of it's foliage by the end of the summer.

Toby is right that hardening is really important no matter the situation.

Mountain Maples says that Bloodgood is a large box or landscape tree. Also, most estimates of size are too small for our warm climates. Bloodgoods can get 30 feet tall in temperate climates like ours.

Here are some alternatives at ( this is just one place because they have a good search engine))
http://www.mountainmaples.com
Pixie
Emperor One
Fireglow is redder, a better container size and good for hot areas.
Red Emporer
Boskoop Glory

Even better, decide where you might want to buy a tree and ask them which tree would be best for your situation. They will know better than anyone.

Personally I would rent the stump grinder and plant it out unless you are savy in container growing which IMHO is not as easy with JM's as other stuff...Doss is right about leaf burn but if its hot and in full sun about any jm can burn..but as it gets bigger you shouldn't notice it as much.

If you want to pot it for just a couple of years I'd buy a four footer max so it's easier to transplant with less stress ...and as Doss said look at other varieties ...the bloodgood had become the burning bush of JM's...rather ordinary...a nice tree large and holds it's color well in sun ..but I think you could do better especially since this seems to be headed for a specimin tree. All of Doss's suggested trees are good ones ...i would edge toward the boskop ( I don't have one but always on my list just a little too big for me now) It would most likely hold up better in full sun ...pixie I don't know anyone that has one ...check out for referance http://www.mapletrees.net/backstage/group.asp although I've never bought from these guys I like there web site ..it has more info than mountain maples and is EASIER to use IMHO it is also a work in progress but I really find myself constantly going back to it for referance You are in WV so there should be lots of nurseries nesrby to check Em out and lots of mail order places too nearby so shipping should be SUPER CHEAP including my favorite Della at http://nurserygirl1.tripod.com/index.html ...David

Pam, I should have said that I have never purchased from Mountain Maples. I generally buy from the two great Japanese Maple specialists that are local.

Thanks David. I've never seen that site before. It is easy to use. Too bad about their having lost their photos though.

In addition most pro container growers use soiless mixtures and most threads you'll find have info homemade mixturesONLY ..I have yet to google a comparison of soiless mixtures you can buy ...but the bench mark seems to be Promix ...they, I believe, make varias types and Home Depots, at least some, carry it...the idea behind using soiless mixtures is to keep disease to a minimum..david

That is hard to find. I like it very much. My local JM nursery uses rose planting mix.

Yes Doss i forgot to mention NO photos but most sites only have one and it';s a close up and usually their best shot ( disceptive!!) ..I have viewed the new dvd out that has a data base of hundreds of jms descriptions and at least four photos of each but no zone suggestions..it's available from eastwoods nusery.I posted about it in another thread on this forum calling it a cd but it is a dvd and very good with a few glitches ...David

And it runs on a Mac. My cup runneth over. Thanks David. I don't have to worry about zones. Not a problem.

Zones are a crap shoot ...i really don't know who comes up with them anyway ...if you like a tree you can probably google your zone being OK for that tree on some sites ..Others obviously don't want returns so they put warmer zones to not take chances with having too many problems even though it may work in a colder zone just fine. I would feel much better if there were a zone clearing house that had accurate average cold winter temps that a certain cultivar could withstand ...but sadly i think the old weedji board is used ..or one place just copies what another has who got it from someone else who was probably drunk and guessed;>)...You Doss or any one in zone 6 especially can grow most anything..zone 6 seems almost perfect!!!

BTW have any of you seen the dvd ...I think it is wonderful... ram eater and occassional freezes aside ...but as i said If your stuck with a pre xp windows cpu I'd pass ...or better yet upgrade your cpu ;>)

Thanks everyone for your input...I don't know much about JMs (but I am quickly going to learn more... :) ) and chose a bloodgood because I liked the color and shape of the leaves (as opposed to the more feathery types of JMs) and frankly just didn't know what all was out there. I do eventually want to put whatever I get into the ground, and it is OK if it grows into a medium sized tree in its location. However, the location does get full sun nearly all day and I didn't realize JMs were so sensitive. So, I'm off to check out the other types you suggested. :)

Cheers
pam

Hope that you enjoy your Bloodgood. Be sure to introduce it to it's new spot gradually before you plant it so it has time to adjust.

Don't worry so much about full sun. Many of the maples can tolerate full sun. Perhaps for your next maple....

doss, why does it sound to me like everyone is talking to you? Are you in charge of these forums or just most experienced, and have the time to write. Thanks, freebird...

Have you seen her garden, I think you'd see why they want her opinion. Quite impressive!

Thanks Nikki. I'm not sure how to take that, freebird. Guess people just like me here. I'm always kind, generous, and considerate maybe? Or maybe it's my gray eyes?

I don't have a dimple in my chin so it can't be that! LOL

Yah I stayed away from that onwe i also did not know how to take it ...but usually in these things the folks that post alot get posted to alot!!! ;>) david

Perhaps it's because her strength is the strength of ten because her heart is pure? :) At any rate, I deeply appreciate the input!

BTW I did decide to go with a bloodgood for the one spot in my front yard, but am seriously considering a fireglow for another, more restricted area closer to the house.

pam

Fireglow is stunning. And a small tree. How nice that it keeps it's red over the summer. I like the veins in the leaves too. And you are sweet Pam. Thanks.

For the price of a barrel and the potting soil, you might be able to convince a tree person to grind your stump during a day they have several jobs to do. I had a very old stump that was rotting out ground at the same time as I had other trees removed and I am so glad I did, it was taking forever to rot away and we have things to do! Also, no more sprouts in the back yard. If you do this, you might be able to plant your JM much more quickly than otherwise and give it a chance to grow up faster.

Freebird, Doss is our friend and has a very nice garden with several JMs. Hope you will join us. I joined a few months ago, and have welcomed her advice and that of the others here who have a lot of JM experience. I see in another thread that you have lots of new maples (on order?). Would love to see pics.

Laura

Laura,
thank you for your welcome. What do you mean by joining you all? I have joined DG, and am very excited to share and learn from other plant and JM lovers.
I will have pics of my new JMs this weekend, it will be interesting how they survive this winter, as they are all from e-bay.

Love, Freebird

As a friend! :-) Looking forward to seeing your pics.

Laura