Maple is a very popular tree. It can be found everywhere: in city parks and squares, in the woods, on summer cottages. It attracts attention due to the beautiful openwork foliage and crown, unusual fruits. Especially beautiful in the fall, when its leaves are painted in bright autumn colors: yellow, orange, purple. One of its interesting and common varieties is the Norway maple, the care of which will be discussed in this article.
- Norway maple: biological features
- Choosing a place for Norway maple: requirements for soil and lighting
- The process of planting young maple seedlings
- Tips for taking care of young maple trees
- Care for mature maple trees
- Diseases and pests of maple leaves
- Use of Norway Maple in Landscape Design
- The use of Norway maple in folk medicine
Norway maple: biological features
Norway maple or common - it is a deciduous tree that is widespread throughout Europe and in Asia,in deciduous and mixed forests, alone or in groups. It is often found next to ash, oak, birch, chestnut. Received its name because of the pointed at the ends of the leaves.
The bark of young plants is gray-brown, darkens with time and becomes covered with cracks.
The leaves are simple, palmate, with five to seven serrated lobes. They have large sizes - up to 18 cm in length and up to 22 cm in width. The upper part of the leaf plate is saturated green, the lower part is lighter. In the autumn period the leaves turn yellow, orange, golden color.
Flowering maple occurs in April and the first half of May before the appearance of leaves or after. The flowers are yellow-green, collected in corymbose inflorescences of 15-30 pieces. Have a pleasant aroma. Norway maple is a dioecious plant. When the maple blossoms, male and female flowers open on different trees.Pollination occurs with the help of insects. The fruit is a two-handed. Its structure allows the wind to spread the seeds at a fairly long distance from the tree. Fruiting occurs in September-October annually starting from the 17th year of life.
The root system of the Norway maple is superficial, recessed into the soil by 20 cm. The lateral roots grow strongly. Very often they are observed reaching the surface of the soil. The lifespan of a tree is 150 years. Although there is information about 200-300-year-old representatives of the species.
The maple Norway maple is propagated by seed, root processes, grafting. Seeds require stratification. In the wild, gives a lot of self-sowing and abundant growth from the stump.
At a young age, maple grows fairly quickly - with an annual increase of 45-60 cm in height and 30-40 cm in width. By the age of seven reaches 2 m and above. Up actively grows to 25-30 years, then the growth rate in height slows down, and the tree begins to grow in breadth. After 50 years, growth slows down or stops altogether.
It is necessary to add to the characteristics of the Norway maple that it is a good honey plant, frost-resistant and able to withstand winter temperatures up to -40 degrees, wind-resistant, easily tolerates heat and drought,it can be used as a soil-improving rock, it is not afraid of planting in cities, in conditions of polluted air.
Choosing a place for Norway maple: requirements for soil and lighting
When choosing a place for planting the Norway Maple, its relation to the light should be taken into account, and since it is light-requiring, choose well-lit areas. Although the tree can tolerate and planting in the penumbra.
The process of planting young maple seedlings
The best time for planting a maple sapling will be early spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed. Also, the tree can be planted in the autumn, after leaf fall. The soil mixture for planting must be prepared from a fertile mixture. It must be fertilized with organic matter. For heavy soils, sand or rubble drainage is mandatory. It is better to buy a seedling with a closed root system, with a large lump of earth, which is not destroyed during planting. Such trees will settle down better in a new place and will quickly grow.
The depth of the planting pit should be at least 50 cm. The seedling is placed in its center, gently straighten the roots and sprinkle with soil. Then lightly tamped.
After planting, the tree should be poured abundantly and continue this procedure regularly for two months. If you plan to plant a group of maples, then it is recommended to leave a distance between trees of 2-4 meters.
Tips for taking care of young maple trees
For the maple leaves, planting and care will not require special knowledge, skills and efforts. Young trees are often and abundantly watered. After the age of two, maples can independently cope with short-term droughts. In the summer, watering should be done once a week; in dry time, it will take 1.5-2 buckets per plant. In the autumn-spring period, watered once a month.
Despite the fact that the maple is a very cold-resistant plant, young Norway maple trees will require shelter in the winter. With the help of spruce branches or dry leaves cover the root neck. Shoots that do not have time to become covered with wood before the winter period may freeze over. However, this is not dangerous for maple trees - because of the rapid growth rates, it will be able to grow new ones, and freezing will not affect the appearance of the tree. Every year the frost resistance of the plant will be strengthened.
It is possible to replant a maple till 15 years. It transports the transplant process easily.
Care for mature maple trees
Adult plants will require only sanitary pruning of maple maple. It is produced in early March. Cut the dried, damaged branches.At the same time it is possible to produce a shaping mowing crown.
Maple responds well to a haircut - it quickly begins to branch and grow. It is also possible to make a shallow loosening of the earth in the near-stem circle after irrigation and precipitation.
Diseases and pests of maple leaves
Under favorable conditions of planting and cultivation, in the absence of stagnant moisture, it is rarely affected by maple trees and pests. However, it still happens.
The greatest danger to the tree is coral blotch, which is manifested by small maroon spots on the bark and shoots. If such symptoms are detected, the diseased branches should be immediately cut off. Disinfect the trimming sites and cover them with garden pitch. Also, disinfection is subject to gardening equipment, which was used for pruning. Maple infects the Taphrina acerina fungus, causing watery brown spots on the leaves.
Of maple pests can bother maple whitefly. Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of the plant. To fight it, it is necessary to destroy the affected branches. With a strong defeat resorted to spraying ammophos.
To avoid the attack of a maple mealybug, before mating, maple should be sprayed with a 3% nitrafene solution. Also, its harmful activity on the maple can perform leaf weevil. In his attacks, chlorophos treatment is used.
Use of Norway Maple in Landscape Design
Since the Norway maple is decorative throughout its vegetative period, it perfectly tolerates urban conditions and the forming crown haircut, it is used in landscape design in a rather wide and varied manner. This is one of the common breeds used for landscape gardening construction - always present in city parks, squares, boulevards, avenues, along roads. It is planted as a tapeworm and in group plantings. It looks great on the background of conifers. Maples are made of hedges, used in alpine slides, rockeries. Grow them on a shtambe, shear in the style of bonsai.
The use of Norway maple in folk medicine
Folk remedies made on the basis of Norway maple, have the following properties:
- painkillers;
- urinary and choleretic;
- tonic;
- astringent;
- wound healing;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antibacterial;
- antipyretic;
- antiemetic;
- tonic
Maple tree is used in dendrotherapy. It is believed that it is able to charge a positive energy, helps to cope with depression, bad mood and fatigue.