Red decorative maple: maple planting

Red decorative maple: maple planting

Japanese decorative maple is a real garden decoration. The red crown among dense greenery will surely attract attention. The tree is unpretentious, does not require formative pruning. Caring for him is simple.

Description of red decorative maple

Under the general name red maple, there are about 150 varieties of trees and shrubs. These immigrants from Southeast Asia grow well in the middle lane. These plants are widespread in Japan, where dwarf varieties growing in pots were bred.

Decorative maple can be dwarf and tall with a spreading crown

The Japanese maple does indeed have red foliage. This color is associated with the presence of carotenoids, which give the foliage red and orange colors. Foliage can be:

  • red;
  • orange;
  • purple;
  • purple.

The list can be supplemented with different tones and shades of these colors. In some varieties, the leaves are bicolored, for example green with a red border. Foliage may vary depending on the season. In spring, red leaves may appear, in summer they turn green, and by autumn they turn purple.

The shape of the leaves in maples can be either in the form of wide lobes, or strongly indented, feathery. The crown is spherical, oval or mushroom-shaped. They form such an openwork weave that the tree looks elegant in winter. The trunk of the tree is silvery gray. The branches have a reddish tinge, in some varieties they are bright red, which makes them a decoration of the garden, even when the foliage has flown around.

Planting a red maple on the site

Red maple grows in any soil except strongly alkaline. He favorably treats feeding with humus and complex mineral fertilizers. The tree needs good drainage. Wind can damage a young plant, so plant maple trees in closed areas. The ornamental bush has an ambiguous attitude to sunlight. The plant needs lighting, but it grows better in slightly shaded areas.

The plant can be planted singly or in a group of other trees and shrubs. It is customary to plant dwarf varieties in large pots and flowerpots. For planting in the ground, you must:

  1. Dig a hole 50-70 cm deep, its size should be 2 times larger than a clod of earth.
  2. Place drainage on the bottom.
  3. Fill the hole halfway with water.
  4. Pour out the soil mixed with mineral fertilizer.
  5. Remove the plant from the container.
  6. Lower a seedling with a clod of earth into the pit, the planting depth is the same as in the container.
  7. Cover the hole with soil.
  8. Spread a mulch of rotten leaves and bark around the plant.

Maple soil should be nutritious enough. It is necessary to take in equal parts sod land, compost and peat.

If the planting took place in April, then until August the plant must be watered and fed. In August, feeding should be stopped so that the sprout is prepared for winter. It is advisable to close young trees with spruce branches from winter frosts.

Red maple is an exquisite plant that will be a decoration of the garden. Bright colors of the autumn bush will dilute the greens of spruce and juniper. They do not need open sunny areas so valuable for other crops. They feel great in the partial shade of other trees and shrubs.

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