Check, particularly after windy weather, that stakes are still solidly in the ground keeping the base of the trunk firm. Roots not firmly in contact with the soil are unable to take up moisture and nutrients, resulting in die back or death of the tree. If trees are not correctly secured they will rock in the planting pit. Each time you mow, the grass will grow back more vigorously and strimming invariably leads to lacerated trunks. Mowing or strimming is NOT an answer to the problem.Weed killer needs to be applied each year for the first 3 years, preferably when the tree is dormant, or just once before applying a mulch mat. Organic weed killers usually do not kill roots. Weed killer is very effective, however it is harmful to the environment.Be careful not to allow the woodchip to touch the stem as it can cause rot. After clearing the ground around the tree, firmly fit the mat by tucking the edges into the soil and put a thick layer of bark mulch on top of this. Mulch mats are an effective way to stop grass and weeds, although they will require a careful eye to make sure they continue to work.It is vital that for at least 3 years after planting your tree or hedge has a circle or strip one metre wide completely free of grass. When trees are first establishing, the grass roots would be at the same level as the tree roots and are far more efficient at taking up water and thus choke the tree. One of the most common causes of lack of water is competition from grass. In hot dry spells give the equivalent of 2 bucketfuls every three days. It is essential throughout the spring and summer, to give a heavy enough watering to enable the water to penetrate right down to the deepest root level of the tree. The main reason that plants die within 12 months of having been planted is lack of water. Acers will bleed sap if pruned too earlyįor the continued healthy growth of your trees, shrubs or hedging it is vital that you follow the advice below. What time of year should I prune? Prune in winter (November to January) when the plant is dormant. Make a clean cut that is flush with the main stem. Remove diseased areas and damaged stems immediately to limit the possibility of further damage. It doesn’t respond well to heavy pruning, so if you are pruning, only remove the young growth. Once established, Acer saccharinum should only be pruned if necessary. If you want a vibrant red maple in Britain the best is Acer freemanii Autumn Blaze. In its native habitat the autumn colour can even be the same vibrant red colour, though sadly we never get to see this here in the UK where our warmer autumn leads to the leaves turning yellow/gold. The leaf on the Canadian flag is thought to be a silhouette of the leaf of this tree, as it is so common in their landscape. Due to its large stature it needs a lot of space to grow and is not a good choice if space is limited. It will grow in all but the worst soil and will do well in damp ground. In its native North America the autumn colour can range from yellow and orange through to deep red, sadly due to the different climate here in the UK we virtually never see the full spectrum of colours.Ī good tree for urban sites as it tolerates pollution well, though due to its brittle branches it is not so good in exposed sites. It has a good autumn colour display of rich gold/yellow. The silver undersides to the classic maple shaped leaves make the tree appear white in windy weather. Growing to a mature height of 25m (80ft) this large, fast-growing tree is often found in parks and in large estates.
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