I'll start this article with two confessions.

1) I'm in no way shape or form a botanist - which will become evident.
2) Regardless of my background, I have successfully reproduced saplings from my hybrid Japanese Maples.

To start, make sure your present hybrid Japanese Maple gets at least moderate to full sun and plenty of water. Without these vital components, your trees won't be healthy enough to reproduce and make seed.

Your trees will seed in the spring. My seeds look pathetic - small, thin - like I said pathetic. Also note, not all of these seeds will reproduce. In fact, since there are hybrid genetics involved, both regular maple and Japanese maple trees can be reproduced.

Since I can't tell from the seeds what will germinate and form, I do just one thing.

What is this one thing you ask? Absolutely nothing! Do you hear me? Do nothing! You will be tempted to pick up the fallen seeds in the spring and plant them or dry them or bring them inside. I'm telling you let them lie there on the ground under the tree.

Ask me how I know? I first tried to play with them and grow them up. In the end, I wasted a lot of time. Imagine my shock after all my efforts, to see young trees growing up all on their own under my trees!

What I've learned is the seeds need to go throw a heat - freeze - and thaw cycle for the seeds to germinate. They will do this on their own if you don't get in the way.

In your excitement, your next temptation will be to transplant the young trees to a more favorable environment. Others with more experience may have success here., but remember, I'm an amateur and I haven't. Everyone I've moved in its first season has eventually died out.

What's my advice? Again, leave it alone! Let it grow through the first season and make sure it has light and water too. Pay special attention to water. With the tall tree above, the young ones below are often starved of the nutrients they need. Rain will not always reach your young trees.

Your next major step is to protect the trees from the coming winter. I cover mine all the way up with compost, forming a cone on the ground. It may looks silly but it does the trick. Remember your seeds will have become regular maples and Japanese. I pull the green ones and cover the red ones. The less competition the better for the ones you want.

Once you are sure the winter snow and spring frosts are over, uncover your little babies and let the sun shine on!

They should grow leaves again and gain about 3-6 inches during this second season. I repeat the whole series again and finally transplant my trophies in season three. The trees should be about 12-24 inches tall with multiple branches.

When transplanting, make sure you dig your whole deep enough to accommodate the entire tap root - the region that was underground when you dug it up. It will be longer than you think so don't dig too shallow and cut it off when you bring it out.

Hope this helps you bring to life your own Japanese maples and saves you some hard earned money in the process.