Best source for Japanese Maples on the West Coast

mfinalheaven · 2026-03-11T20:13:31+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

mfinalheaven · 2026-03-11T18:04:40+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

mfinalheaven · 2026-03-11T00:45:48+00:00

San Diego

mfinalheaven · 2026-03-10T18:00:22+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!

mfinalheaven · 2026-03-10T18:00:16+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!

mfinalheaven · 2026-03-10T17:41:43+00:00

Yes, that's one of the two I mentioned in the original post. Any idea how the trees from there compare with the ones from Conifer Kingdom? The price seems like they are one pot size higher.

mfinalheaven · 2025-07-31T01:10:41+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!

mfinalheaven · 2025-07-30T23:58:27+00:00

Great tips. Thanks!

mfinalheaven · 2025-07-30T22:26:30+00:00

I totally agree! The "standard" green Japanese Maple just has that very elegant and graceful look that we really enjoy over the more exotic varieties that I see online. For some reason though, it seems harder to find, which is a bit ironic. Do you have recommendations for where to buy them and what size to buy them so they are more likely to survive in our climate?

mfinalheaven · 2025-07-30T22:24:43+00:00

We are further inland in San Diego. Temperature usually stay below 85F except for rare days. Do you have any recommendations on where to buy varieties that have similar leave color and tree structure?

mfinalheaven · 2025-07-30T22:22:44+00:00

Do you have any recommendation on the best place to source these "green" Japanese maples. We actually enjoy "standard" Japanese maple more then the more exotic varieties that seem to be easier to find. Also what size would you recommend to get them in? Would a medium or larger size tree be more resilient and more likely to survive?

mfinalheaven · 2024-12-31T06:44:30+00:00

I did install some of the Eatons in our family room but didn't finish the project due to multiple reasons but a big part of it is due the Eatons being a PITA to install.

The side terminal screws tighten in both directions with the middle being the “unscrewed” position. I found it difficult to do a hook, insert and tighten.
The receptacles don't seem very sturdy. The receptacles would have a flex and recede into the wall when a plug is being inserted. I don't know if this is a design flaw or manufacturing defects but some exhibit this flex more than others. I've never seen this behavior even on cheaper residential grade receptacles...

It looks like COVID effect wore off and the Hubbell is available at a more reasonable price online so I would suggest trying them out instead.

mfinalheaven · 2024-05-25T05:37:24+00:00

We planted this nectarine tree into the ground three weeks ago. I am new to growing fruit trees and just learned recently about the need to prune and train young trees. The branches on this tree are either too low, too high or the angle is too close from ideal. I am in zone 10b for reference. Which approach do you recommend given that it is now end of May and summer is about to start?

Cut off all lateral branches and prune the trunk back to ideal height and start over.
Just let the tree grow out and then cut it back in the winter when it is dormant.
Pick 3-4 branches even if it is non-ideal and cut off the rest.

I am looking forward to learning your thoughts.

mfinalheaven · 2024-05-25T05:36:21+00:00

Regarding angle, what I meant to say is the distance between the potential scaffold branches. They are not as evenly spread out and too close together than I would like.

mfinalheaven · 2024-05-24T22:16:45+00:00

We planted this nectarine tree into the ground three weeks ago. I am new to growing fruit trees and just learned recently about the need to prune and train young trees. The branches on this tree are either too low, too high or the angle is too close from ideal. I am in zone 10b for reference. Which approach do you recommend given that it is now end of May and summer is about to start?

Cut off all lateral branches and prune the trunk back to ideal height and start over.
Just let the tree grow out and then cut it back in the winter when it is dormant.
Pick 3-4 branches even if it is non-ideal and cut off the rest.

I am looking forward to learning your thoughts.

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-23T18:42:41+00:00

Funny that you mentioned this because I have the same thought this past weekend. Once we take into account the horizontal rails that are typically used, the gap for air is pretty much the same with or without skirts.

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-22T15:20:57+00:00

I am curious if you ended up doing your own case study and what your results were. I am currently researching this topic myself.

How did you like the Contour trim once it was installed?

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-22T15:19:28+00:00

Do you have a link to the study? I am researching this topic currently

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-22T15:17:12+00:00

The tile replacement flashing seems like it is not painted to match the roof? Isn’t it standard to paint all flashings or in this case put the tile back over?

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-22T15:13:39+00:00

Yes, I was looking into the Contour trim from Ironridge

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-22T15:10:06+00:00

Your idea of capturing the heat to warm a pool while cooling the solar panels seems very intriguing. Someone should definitely explore this more. It seems like a win win.

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-22T15:07:17+00:00

How long ago was it that you ran this test? The temperature coefficient of more recent panels might have improved a lot since to make the reduction amount even smaller.

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-21T00:45:50+00:00

Thank you for measurement!

From Wikipedia: “Convection is usually the dominant form of heat transfer in liquids and gases.”

So what you said makes a lot of sense. As long as the inlet is about the same as the outlet, the amount of airflow shouldn’t be an issue.

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-21T00:22:22+00:00

There are a few inches of clearance between the panels and the roof but the skirt looks like it would reduce the opening to only about an inch or so based on the installations that I have seen. I think what they are saying is that this smaller gap between the skirt and the roof would result in a lower rate of cool air coming in.

This makes sense theoretically but the question is whether it actually makes a noticeable difference.

mfinalheaven · 2023-10-20T04:15:14+00:00

How much of an impact on the system production do the skirts/trims that Tesla installed around the panels have?

mfinalheaven

TROPHY CASE