The spectacular autumn colors on maple trees are the starting signal for a balanced care program. As the gardening season draws to a close, the time window for important measures in beds and tubs opens up for all maple species. This guide summarizes what to do in the fall.
Depending on the variety, the maple turns red, orange or yellow in autumn
Autumn pruning minimizes the risk of failure
Maples tend to leak more fluid from cuts. Even the smallest bark injuries in the middle of the season allow the plant sap to flow freely. You avoid this shortcoming if you cut back a maple in autumn. As the leaves fall, the sap pressure decreases, only to gradually increase again from December/January. How to use the autumn for a pruning on the maple:
- Prune the maple when it has shed at least half of its leaves
- Cut back by the end of January at the latest
- Ideally prune in dry, frost-free weather
Only cut off shoots that are too long in the area of last year's growth. When you prune out old, dead branches, long stubs must not be left standing and the branch ring must not be damaged.
Potassium fertilizer strengthens winter hardiness
The robust winter hardiness of up to - 40 degrees Celsius is not inherent even in native maple trees. Reliable frost tolerance only develops over the course of the first few years. Applying a fertilizer high in potassium in the fall will encourage this process. This nutrient in particular is able to lower the freezing point in cell water and strengthen the tissue of the cell walls.
Prepare a vat of comfrey liquid manure in good time in summer so that you can spray the tree grate once or twice in August and September. Alternatively, administer Patentkali or Thomaskali in late summer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Maple in a pot wants a winter coat
Potassium-rich fertilizers are not enough to protect potted maples from the rigors of winter. Cover the bucket with fleece or coconut mats (€21.90) and place the container on wood or styrofoam. Gather autumn leaves and place them in a thick layer on the substrate.
tips
Autumn is not only the linchpin for important care measures. When summer is coming to an end, the ideal time window for planting in the bed opens. In September and October, the ideal conditions for rapid rooting prevail in the sun-warmed soil.