How does maple propagate?

In the genus of maples, you can find not only trees, but also shrubs. In total, it is represented by species in the amount of 150 pieces. Reproduction of this plant can be done in various ways, we will consider each of them in more detail.

Experts recommend using this method in the autumn. Its essence is to cut off cuttings from an adult tree and use them to reproduce. The length of each of the cuttings should be about 25 centimeters. All should have 2 leaves, each should be cut in half.

Before planting cuttings, they must be placed in a solution that will help stimulate root growth. Planting depth should be 5 centimeters. The hole is properly loosened, the drainage system is prepared, and then mineral fertilizers are added. The soil should be light and moderately moist.

With the onset of spring, the seedlings are placed in a new substrate. It is necessary to add fertilizers with potassium, superphosphate and urea. Regular and fairly abundant watering is very important for young plants. One tree will require about 30 liters of water.

Watering should be done every 2 weeks, especially at first. Later, 15 liters per tree once a month will be enough. You will also need to look after the plantings, loosen the ground and hide them from direct sunlight.

Seed propagation will require a lot of time and effort from the gardener, since this process is very laborious. First you need to decide what kind of maple you prefer to see on your site. It should be noted that you won't be able to get any kind from seeds - there is a specific list. A number of decorative forms can be obtained only by grafting or grafting. For example, if maple "Flamingo" propagates from both seeds and cuttings, then species such as Tatar, green-bordered or "Ginnala", should be grown from seed.

As for reproduction in nature, the seeds fall into the ground due to strong gusts of wind blowing them off the trees. The structure allows you to spread over the surrounding area. After the seed has landed, it is covered with fallen leaves, and after that with snow. For this reason, during the period of cold weather, the process of stratification automatically takes place, and those seeds that turn out to be stronger hatch already with the onset of heat, when the snow melts.

Let's take a step by step how to grow a maple from seeds. First of all, the seed is collected and slightly dried, and then for 16–20 weeks it is removed to a room where the temperature is no more than 5 degrees Celsius. Usually this is a basement, but if this is not possible, you can use the lower compartment of the refrigerator, which is used for storing vegetables.

The seeds are placed on a pre-moistened cloth and covered with it. It is necessary to ensure that the material does not dry out, periodically spraying it with water.Stratification can also take place in a natural way, if the seeds are sown in the autumn, however, it is impossible to answer for the quality of the crops. In this case, a hole is dug for the future tree in a quiet and sunny place, the depth of which should be about 70, and the width - about 50 centimeters. A sand-peat mixture is added to the ground, all this is mixed, and then laid back into the hole, the seeds are laid out with their wings up and sprinkled with soil about 4 centimeters.

After the specified storage time, the seeds must be removed from the tissue and placed in a growth-stimulating solution for a couple of days. Before that, experts recommend disinfection, for example, treatment with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

After the material is prepared, it can be planted in pre-prepared containers with the substrate. After waiting for the seeds to germinate, they should be planted in open ground. If the weather is good, it can be just a garden bed. Experts say that maple grows well, with about 85 percent of the crops being successful.

In the first year of life, plants reach a height of 80 centimeters. You need to look after him all this time.... The planting site should not be located in the open sun, as it can dry out young trees. It is best if there is a small shadow. You should also take care of timely abundant watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil.

The third popular breeding method for maples is grafting. It is most often used when working with ornamental plant species. Two types can be distinguished: budding and copulation. In the first case, it means a grafting with a kidney, in the second - grafting with a graft.

The rootstock should be done on maples belonging to the same species. It is best to carry out procedures in the spring.

In this case, planting can be carried out not only in spring, but also in autumn. The minimum recommended distance between plantings should be 4 meters. If it is planned to arrange a hedge, this figure is reduced to 1.5 meters.

With the help of grafting, decorative hybrids can be propagated. The procedure is carried out in several stages.

First of all, the material is prepared. When it comes to spring, cuttings are used, while in the summer it is recommended to use the kidneys. An incision is made on a young branch at an angle, just like a graft, which is neatly located in the prepared hole. A tight bandage is applied on top, you can use a special film or tape.

When cutting the bud, you need to grab part of the branch. The resulting element is applied to the place where the bud from the wild tree was cut. A film or tape is also applied on top.

The result is considered achieved when shoots begin to form on the grafted branch or bud. It is better to leave the fixing tape in place until next year, then it will be known for sure whether the vaccination was successful. With positive dynamics, buds and leaves will appear on the plant.

You can learn how to properly propagate Norway maples in the video below.