A maple is at the top of the wish list as a house tree. Choosing the ideal candidate from the nearly 200 species and countless cultivars is more of a challenge than planting your favorite maple. These instructions answer all the important questions about skilful planting in a practical and comprehensible manner.

Maple is best planted in the fall

When is the best time to plant maple trees?

Plant a maple in the ground in the fall and the young tree will take root in time for winter. This choice of date gives the deciduous tree a vital growth advantage in spring and reduces the need for watering in the first year. An exception applies to Japanese slot maple (Acer palmatum) and its varieties. Due to the frost sensitivity of these trees, we recommend planting in the spring.

Which location is perfect?

The ideal conditions for a long tree life are offered to a maple at this location:

  • Sunny to semi-shady without blazing midday sun
  • Warm and sheltered from the wind
  • Nutrient-rich, loose, humus-rich soil

Locations that are poor in light and exposed to the wind with wet, acidic moor bed soil are unsuitable. The optimal pH value for native maple species is between 6.0 and 8.0. Asian species and varieties thrive at a pH between 5.0 and 6.5.

How do I go about planting correctly, step by step?

In order to properly plant a young maple between 120 and 160 cm in height, you will need the following materials: spade, 3 sharpened, impregnated wooden posts 250 cm long, compost, coconut rope, sledgehammer, ladder and gloves. How to properly plant a maple tree:

  • Dig a planting hole twice the width and depth of the root ball
  • Pile up the excavated material next to the pit and enrich one third with compost
  • Pull the container pot off the root ball, do not remove the organic ball cloth
  • Place the tree in the middle of the pit and open the bale cloth
  • Fill in the gaps with the enriched soil until the tree no longer tips over

Straighten the maple tree, fill in the remaining soil and tamp down. Drive the support posts 50 cm deep into the ground with a sledgehammer at a distance of 30 cm from the trunk. Connect the wooden posts and trunk with the coconut rope for storm-proof stability. If you still have concerns about the stability, screw the upper ends of the wooden posts to crossbars.

Pouring rim optimizes the water supply - this is how it works

A freshly planted maple tree has a high water requirement. Surround the planting site with a 10 cm high mound of earth as a watering edge and fill in at least 5 liters of water. To protect against drying out, we recommend a thick layer of bark mulch.

tips

Despite all the care taken when choosing a location, the chosen garden space can later turn out to be unsuitable. You can transplant a maple without any problems within the first five years. The best time of year to move is in the fall after the leaves have fallen.

Category:

Trees