All about the Manchurian maple

Well-groomed private plots and gardens are always awe-inspiring. Particular attention among them is attracted by those where a certain exclusive flaunts. This, possibly, is due to the increased interest of gardeners in the Manchurian maple.

Manchurian maple is a unique tree of its kind. This is due to the unusual color and growth characteristics. In spring and summer, the color of the leaves of the Manchurian maple does not differ from the color of the foliage of most trees. At this time, the color gamut fluctuates within the range of yellow-green shades.

With the onset of autumn, everything changes dramatically, and the tree becomes yellow-pink. Three-syllable, elongated leaves are placed on red petioles. They reach 8 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. A distinctive feature is the color of the trunk, ranging from gray to brown.

As for the characteristics of growth, under favorable conditions, the height of the tree can reach 20 m, and the width of the trunk - 60 cm. At the same time, the Manchu maple does not need at all pruning and crown formation, since the branches have the correct shape and grow upward. Regions with a warm climate and long bright days are considered favorable for the growth of maple. In this case, the tree is considered a frost-resistant crop.

These requirements are a prerequisite for the appearance of pink colors in the autumn season. In addition, in a warm spring, the tree blooms by May, and by September, if the autumn is warm, it begins to bear fruit. Yellow-green flowers are collected in bunches of 3-5 pieces each. The fruits are represented by bunches of lionfish, reaching 4 cm. The tree begins to bloom 13 years after planting.

Due to its extensive root system, the Manchu maple is a wind-resistant plant. For this reason, they tend to plant this species in windy places.

A mature tree is not a particularly whimsical crop; it can withstand both a lack of moisture and strong gusty winds. The same cannot be said about the home-grown tree, which is the most difficult to adapt to the urban environment for the first three years. A young root system is extremely sensitive to soil and pests. For this reason, it is better to buy a seedling in nurseries, where they are hardened to some extent. In addition, seedlings from nurseries are properly grafted, which will allow the tree to grow faster and speed up the flowering process.

Spring and autumn are considered favorable seasons for planting. When choosing the time, it is best to build on the climatic conditions of the region. If the cold weather comes quickly, then it is better to plan the planting of the seedling in the open ground in the spring.

The root system of a young plant is extremely vulnerable, for this reason, at a distance of about 4 meters near the seedling, there should be no other crops and a fence. Since the roots do not deepen, but grow in breadth, it is necessary that the hole is about 80 cm wide and 70 cm deep. As for the soil, a well-moistened alkaline substrate is the most favorable option.

So that the root system of a young seedling does not undergo suppuration, it is necessary to lay drainage at the bottom of the hole with a layer of at least 20 cm. For these purposes, you can use medium-sized crushed stone or expanded clay of a large fraction. When planting, you must try to keep the root collar at ground level. If it turns out lower, then you need to add a hole.

Sprinkle with a pre-prepared mixture. To do this, mix peat, turf soil, sand. The ratio is as follows: 3-2-1.

You should try to place the young maple evenly. After that, sprinkle the seedling half with the nutrient mixture. For tamping, pour water. If the hole is too deep and the nutrient mixture has settled, then it is recommended to add it. But it is necessary to take into account the fact that the native soil must be in the upper layer. To avoid water spreading, it is recommended to make a groove around the perimeter of the pit.

The final touch of planting is the final watering. To do this, you need to pour out a bucket of water after planting the seedling. After completely absorbing, pour out another one.

First of all, care involves regular watering. During the first month after planting, you need to feed the maple with two buckets of water once a week. In the spring-autumn period, it is necessary to water the tree once every 2 weeks, due to the small number of warm days. In the summer season, watering is carried out once a week. In hot weather, the volume of water is increased to 2 buckets per week.

Since a young seedling needs abundant watering, this can cause rot in the soil. To avoid this, you need to dig up the soil up to 4 m around the tree at least 2 times a season after abundant watering. In this case, it is impossible to go deeply, as you can damage the root system. A depth of about 10 cm is considered optimal.

In early spring, the tree needs sanitary pruning. This procedure means the removal of dry branches with a pruner. Since a young tree is considered particularly vulnerable, it is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible at the first signs of the disease. The onset of a tree disease is indicated by a change in the color of the foliage.

The tree propagates in several ways. The simplest are seed germination and rooting of cuttings. The first method is within the power of experienced gardeners, since it requires some experience and skill. With an experienced approach to business, only about 30% of the seeds collected in the summer take root. And this is provided that they are treated with 0.01% hydrogen peroxide concentrate. Processing is carried out within 16 hours. This is not the end of the seed preparation. You will need to take care of the shelter of the germinated seedlings for the winter.

If the seeds were collected under a tree, then they need to be hardened before soaking. To do this, they are placed for 3 months in a container with sand, which is kept in the refrigerator all this time.

To root the cuttings, it is necessary to cut off the shoot by the end of summer, leaving 2 leaves on it. Before planting in the ground, the shoot is soaked in a growth activator for 24 hours. After that, it is planted in a well-moistened and fed soil to a depth of at least 5 cm. For the winter, the shoot must be covered with a layer of mulch. In spring, it can be transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Techniques such as air venting and grafting are widely used by specialists. With an air outlet, incisions are made in the bark of a healthy branch, where a foreign object is inserted to prevent fusion. The wound is covered with moss and wrapped in a film. Such a greenhouse effect is provided by the formation of the root system.

Most often affects tree foliage mole... Its presence is indicated by brown spots on the sheets, inside of which holes are visible. This suggests that the insect has eaten the foliage.

If brown spots do not have holes, then this is a sign of the appearance rot... In cases with the appearance of moths, watering the tree will be an effective remedy. "Fufanon" and Fitoverm. You can save yourself from the fungus with "Fundazol", "Hom" or a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

Since the tree requires abundant watering, rot also manifests itself in the form of powdery mildew and black spot. As for pests, the Manchurian maple is affected by the whitefly and leaf weevil.

For prevention, watering should be carried out in the system, allowing the soil to dry out. In this case, the soil must be loosened regularly. If it was not possible to avoid diseases, then the solution to the problem will be the timely processing of the tree with the mentioned drugs.

The following video will tell you how to grow maple.