Red maple or red maple (Acer rubrum) is widespread in North America and is a deciduous tree up to almost 30 meters high. In our case, however, the trees remain significantly smaller. Although this type of maple - which should not be confused with the red Japanese maple - has few demands when it comes to care, it needs certain conditions when planting for strong growth and a he althy habit.
How do I plant a red maple correctly?
To properly plant a red maple (Acer rubrum), choose a sunny to light, partially shaded location and a sandy, humus-rich, permeable substrate with a slightly acidic to neutral pH value. The best time to plant is late spring, after the Ice Saints.
Which location does the red maple prefer?
Like almost all maples, the red maple prefers a sunny to light, partially shaded location, although the rule of thumb is: the sunnier the spot, the more intense the autumn color.
Which substrate is suitable for the red maple?
The red maple is also similar to its relatives when it comes to soil conditions, as it prefers a sandy, humus-rich, permeable and beautifully loose substrate with a slightly acidic to neutral pH value.
When is the best time to plant red maple?
Although container goods can generally be planted throughout the entire growing season, maples should be planted in the garden in late spring if possible - i.e. after the Ice Saints. This gives them enough time to take root in their location until winter.
What distance should red maple be from other plants?
Red maple looks best as a solitaire.
What is the best way to plant red maple?
To plant, you should dig a sufficiently deep and wide hole that is about twice as large as the actual root ball. The soil in the planting area must first be thoroughly loosened and, if necessary, improved with good compost soil (€12.00 on Amazon), peat and/or sand.
Does red maple bloom?
Red maple is one of the trees that bloom before the leaves emerge. In our latitudes the red inflorescences appear between April and May. The seeds-containing fruits are ripe shortly after the leaves emerge.
How to propagate red maple?
The deciduous tree can be propagated via cuttings or seeds. Bonsai lovers have also had success by removing moss.
Can red maple be transplanted?
The roots of the red maple do not extend particularly deep, but they can extend many meters wide. In many older trees, root runners have already been found 25 meters away. For this reason, it is not advisable to transplant red maple - at least if it has been in its location for more than four or five years.
Tip
Red maple can be cultivated very well in pots and is one of the most popular tree species for bonsai cultivation.