With its summer foliage, the field maple hedge repels prying eyes and offers birds and insects a protective refuge. Although the native wood is completely frost-resistant, simple precautions in autumn make a valuable contribution to an unscathed winter. You can find out what these are here.
How do I prepare my field maple hedge for winter?
To make the field maple hedge winter-proof, plant it in nutrient-rich soil, mulch it with leaves or bark mulch and fertilize it in autumn with potassium-based fertilizer. Cut back the hedge in February/March to avoid frost damage.
Light winter protection is recommended in the year of planting - this is how it works
Saving foxes among home gardeners are planting the new field maple hedge with inexpensive root products. Tree nurseries and garden centers have bare-rooted young bushes available for you between October/November and March/April. Since a young Maßholder has to gradually develop its robust winter hardiness, light protection for the first winter is advisable. It's that easy:
- Planting field maple in a spacious planting hole with a mixture of garden soil and compost
- Do not add mineral fertilizer to the planting pit
- Water abundantly and regularly on the day of planting and afterwards
- After planting, cover the root disc with a thick layer of leaves and conifers
Instead of leaves and brushwood, you can mulch with straw or bark mulch. In this way, you keep frosty temperatures and constant winter wetness away from the young root system. In early spring, remove the protective layer to prevent mold from forming as temperatures rise.
Potassium fertilizer strengthens winter hardiness
An Acer campestre demonstrates its rapid growth with up to 50 cm per year without additional nutrients. Nevertheless, we recommend supplying your field maple hedge with a potassium-rich fertilizer in September. Along with nitrogen and phosphorus, potassium is one of the main nutrients and is significantly involved in numerous important growth processes.
Among other things, potassium contributes to optimizing frost hardiness because it strengthens the cell tissue and lowers the freezing point in the cell water. Therefore, in the fall, administer a potassium fertilizer (€43.00 on Amazon), such as Patentkali or Thomaskali, and water abundantly.
Tip
The end of winter is the best time for a shape and maintenance cut. Pruning in the fall is also possible. However, the branches then sprout again, which makes them vulnerable to frost. Therefore, cut back your field maple hedge in February/March, shortly before the start of the growing season.
