The Beauty Of Maple Trees How To Grow Them
- Gwen M
- Apr 25, 2017
- 9 min read
Want to add an array of fall colors to you home then a maple tree will
allow you to do just that inside or outdoors.
Here are some key factors to think about before growing maple trees for example dominate the life of a Japanese maple, the shallowness of its roots, the need for acid or neutral soil and protection from extreme weather are to name a few.
The initial stage of planting a maple tree, whether individually or on a commercial scale, is a decisive moment for the life of plant. These cautionary steps can increase the growth rate and this endeavor will turn out to be rewarding experience.
The chosen site for the plant should be selected keeping in mind the sunlight, the flow of air and the condition of soil. The digging of the site is the first step when you have made it sure that the site is fulfilling all the necessary elements.
Digging involves certain steps that should be flowed in order to get the desirable results. Take the soil out of the ground, the amount of soil to be removed from the ground usually depends upon the size of roots but it should span 2 to 3 times the size of the root system. This is to accommodate the future expansion of the roots which need an extra space. If this proportion is ignored at this stage then it is possible that the roots will intermingle with the neighboring trees. Grow Indoor Potted/Containers Maple trees
If you are planning to plant the tree indoors then it usually involves the use of pots and containers.Most container grown trees will only grow to be between 4′ – 10′ tall. However, you can grow larger trees in containers, but if they grow above 10 feet, you will need to provide a very large container to accommodate the root system. Some larger trees for containers are:
Use containers and pots with great drainage. Sometimes this can be hard in a large container. Larger containers will be more likely to have a lot of soil and just the weight of the soil can block the drainage holes. Here is a great solution for you to try fill in a few inches of the bottom of your container with stones to help provide drainage that will not get blocked.
Fertilizing The Maple Tree
Potted and container maples will totally depend on you for care. Maple trees do not require additional fertilization if the soil is already known to be fertile. So make sure that you fertilize your soil because it is a vital element in the overall growth of the maple tree and the garden experts describe the need of fertile soil as essential. Now The vibrant color of leaves depend on two important factors; appropriate sunlight and the fertility of the soil. So do place you pots and containers in the proper location. So feed your tree once a month with a water-based fertilizer or you can do it once every three months for a slow release.
If you to use inorganic fertilizers, then it is best to fertilize lightly in half dosages rather than full strength.. again Water soluble fertilizers such as Miracle Grow seem to work fine...but go lightly.
Your timimg is important when to apply a fertilizing. Once you have planted your maple tree seeds it is best to wait and fertilize a just planted tree the second growing season after being planted. This will gives the plant plenty of time to adapt to its new conditions.
Never put fertilizers such as dry pellets or fertilizer "spikes" containing nitrogen, when planting a maple in the backfill because root injury may result. Be careful with top dressed granular fertilizers which can sometimes release too much fertilizer at a time and thus cause damage to your tree.
Growing Maples Outdoors
The best time to plant a tree is NOW. However, if you want to take advantage of the new root growth in the dormant season plant in the fall season. Unlike the tops of the maple tree that go dormant and cease growth for the winter, the roots of maples trees will continue to grow throughout the fall and early winter months if temperatures are not below freezing.
Planting in the fall season will allows the carbohydrates that are produced during the summer to be directed to root growth since there is little demand from the top. If you are planting during the spring season avoid disturbing any plant parts that recently have broken bud because they are is producing new, soft growth.
Tree Placement
Placing your trees could make the difference between a beautiful lush growing maple to a straggly struggling one. With so many cultivars to choose from this should not be a problem as you should be able to match your landscape situation with the right cultivar. Try to match your maple cultivar to your planting locati
on with regards to the amount of sun, wind exposure and space availability the tree will receive. Keep in mind that Young trees will need to be protected from the elements until they have formed established roots. Remember that the morning sun and the afternoon shade is important to most maples.
To much sunlight will cause the leaves to show signs of stress and the tip of the leaves will burn.
Another problem is roots will become sun baked. Keep this in mind before you plant your maple tree, maples are thin-barked and can be sun scalded during the first year or two after transplanting. This injury will amost always set the trees growth back considerably. Most maple species are naturally under story plants, but gardeners have forced them into the open landscape.
Soil Prep And Planting
Clay and heavily drained soils are a no no when it comes to planting your maple tree because they could cause root rot and aid in producing deseases. They are also low in oxygen and most plants breath through their roots. If you are using a heavy soil you can dig the hole 2 to 4 inches shallower than the root ball. The reason you want to do this is because in bad drained or heavy clay soil, the maple plant is best when you place it higher than its original planting depth at about 4 to 6 inches higher than the surrounding soil this will create a raised mound.
Because poorly drained soils are a main cause of plant problems. It is always a best to incorporate about 10-20 percent organic matter into the soil to help with drainage and aeration. Only use Use well-composted mulches. You can also use a quality bag of potting soil to mixed in that will work out fine.
Do not use fine- textured organic matter, such as sand or peat moss. Do not use green bark products as amendments.
Freshly milled bark that is not composted will slowly but surley rob plants of nitrogen when used as an amendment.
As The microorganisms in the soil will feed on bark and decompose it, they will also will use the nitrogen that is in the soil. The pH of the soil often drops dramatically below the desirable range that is needed when non-composted materials are used as amendments
Use Sandy or well drained soils.
When using well drained soil for your maple tree never dig the hole deeper than the height of the root ball, and the hole should be at least twice and preferably five times wider than the root ball. This will allow the Roots to grow more quickly into loosened soil, thus speeding up the tree's establishment time. Mulch should be placed over the surface.
Mulching Is Good
So, why is Mulch such a good friend of your maple? Because the mulch will protects the roots from the heat in summer, the cold in winter and will reduce the amount of times you water your plant. It is best to apply a loose mulch, for example wood chips or pine needles and place it over the planted area to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Make sure you keep mulch several inches away from the trunk of the tree. Don't forget to mulch your maple trees in containers.
Pruning Your Maple Tree
It is best to start pruning in the fall and winter for most trees and shrubs with the exception of maples because they will bleed or ooze sap they are best pruned in late winter or early spring the wounds may flow with sap. If for some reason heavy sap flow occurs, pruning should be avoided until it stops or wait until midsummer. The flow of sap can lead to disease invasion and make the tree weak. I have found that The preferred Try to Prune maples between mid-July and August, a period when sap won't run from cuts.
How To Watering the Japanese maple trees
Maple trees and shrubs both need constant moisturizing. This need becomes an important process of life in the regions where climate is known for its ruthless warmth. The root system will face the consequences as it needs the moisturizing to transport the water to all the parts of the plant. Leaves and bark are dependent on the root system, and they will be affected if the roots do not get the appropriate supply of water needed.
In most all cases, the leaves will lose their beautiful vibrant colors for which they are famous for. In the varieties which loose all the leaves in particular season so in this case bark plays an important role in the ornamentation. Bark too looses colors if the plant is not properly watered. Watering the plant regularly is a good way to resolve this issue.
When you are ready to plant the maple tree, then that is moment the soil should be moisturized by making a water loop around the plant. This is the compressed soil which is used to make a circle around the newly placed plant. By doing it this way it amazingly facilitates the water to travel in a circular fashion.
The fact that the powerful roots are important for a plant to sustain. This technique will persuade the water to move around the borders and when this happens the new roots spring out from the already existing roots around the circle, which consequently makes the root system more powerful.
The heap height depends on the dimensions of the maple tree and can vary from plant to plant. Furthermore by using wood chips, leaves, and stone to spread on the surface of the soil can amazingly protect the soil and plant roots from many aspects including raindrops, freezing, and helps plant to retain moisturizing.
This technique is best known for its usefulness in the early days of the plant and effects the overall growth of the tree, but it can be replaced by some other techniques after the plant reaches its maturity.
Again water drainage is as important as the moisturizing of the maple tree. Remember too much water can make the roots week enough to carry out all the operations effectively. So how much water do your need? The amount of water that is required by each tree is varies from one tree to another and it mainly depends on the size of the tree. The dwarf maple tree and shrubs may not tolerate the excessive supply of water. These plants are mostly planted in trays, containers and pots and the drainage system can be made effective through some simple steps.
Here is what you do when you are about to place the plant into the pot,
1.Put some rubles at the foundation of the pot,
2.Cover them with a coating of soil, this will ensure the appropriate drainage of the excessive water. This method is in use for quite some time and expert gardeners have fully developed their trust on its effectiveness. The appropriate limit of watering the plant can easily be known at the time of purchase.
Do not prune
Early Spring when buds are beging to break through Late Autumn wounds won't have enough time to heal before winter freezing or dampness
The process of pruning means removing dead limbs, crossing branches (or branches that will cross in the future). A certain number of branch tips will have died back and these tips can be snapped off with your fingers, or larger branches cut with a pruning tool.
You should remove any shoots growing from the base of the plant whose leaves look different from the rest of the plant.
Maples are grafted onto an understock that in most cases will be more vigorous than the grafted scion. If left to grow, this shoot will take over and outcompete the main tree.
Always give newly planted trees and shrubs only minimal pruning. Because removing too much top will affects the production of food energy (carbohydrates) and as a result you will end up with a tree with poor root development. After planting, prune out broken branches and those with weak or narrow crotches.
Leave some of the lower limbs and sprouts on the young trees because they will be removed later. The limbs will provide the closest source of food energy for root development. Some gardeners believe that trees will form a stronger trunk if the lower branches are not trimmed for a few years.
In closing maple trees will add a lasting beauty to your home indoors or outside for many years to come if done right
What about you do have have maples trees in your home? Or maybe you would like to add some beauty to your outdoor space leave all comments below
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