2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33
When choosing trees for landscaping the territory, attention is paid to the peculiarities of cultivation and decorative qualities. Canadian maple is in great demand. It is a tall tree that attracts attention with its magnificent structure and lush foliage. With the onset of autumn, the leaves change color to a rich yellow-red, which clearly contrasts with the green foliage of other plants.
Description
The leaf of this tree adorns the national flag of Canada. In some sources, this variety is called sugar maple or silver maple . The tree belongs to the sapindaceae family, whose representatives grow in the eastern part of North America.
Maple reaches a height of 25-37 meters, sometimes it grows up to 40 meters, and the thickness of the trunk is 76-91 centimeters in diameter . These characteristics will vary depending on the characteristics of each variety. The color of the bark varies from light gray to gray-brown.
The texture is rough and tough. The surface of the trunk is covered with large and deep cracks. The bark darkens with age. The root system is well developed and branched . She goes deep into the ground.
The shape of the opposite leaves is simple, the length is from 5 to 11 centimeters, the width is about the same . They grow on long petioles. Leaves with five lobes, pointed or obtuse, with rough jagged edges.
The color of the upper part is more intense and bright compared to the lower part. The texture is also different, smooth at the top and rough at the bottom . As the seasons change, the color changes to yellow, orange or bright scarlet.
The tree blooms with small flowers of green color with a yellow tint, which are collected in bunches . They are located on long petioles. One bunch collects approximately 8 to 14 buds.
Many Canadian maples are dioecious and form flowers of the same sex, female or male. If flowers of both sexes grow, they are placed on different branches.
The tree bears fruit with lionfish (seeds with "wings") from two halves of the same size. Each part grows from 2 to 2.5 cm. The color of the petioles is red or red with a brown tint.
The Canadian maple lives for 300 to 400 years in favorable conditions and is considered a long-lived plant . This is not the only characteristic that the tree differs from ordinary maple. It is still growing rapidly and looks amazing.
Spreading
North America is the birthplace of the plant . This species is common throughout Canada, the eastern United States, Nova Scotia, and other neighboring regions. It is also common in numerous Canadian provinces. Maple takes root in almost any natural landscape. Canadian maple dominates both mixed and deciduous forests.
The following varieties are co-dominants:
- basswood;
- large-leaved beech;
- different varieties of birches.
Today, maple is native to America and is grown in different parts of Russia . It can be found almost throughout the country, regardless of the climate in each region. Some species of Canadian maple are highly resistant to low temperatures and frost, which is very important for the harsh Russian climate.
Note: In some areas, the tree grows like a weed due to its special and rapid propagation. We have to deal with the removal of small growth.
Popular species and varieties
There are several types of sugar maple, each with a number of distinct capabilities.
Red
Red or red-leaved maple stands out from the rest due to its special decorative qualities. The plant got its name because of the bright red color of the leaves . Sometimes there are specimens with a fiery orange color. The leaf blade is divided into five lobes, the edges are pointed. Length 11 centimeters.
The crown resembles a pyramid or ellipse in shape . This tree has become widespread in landscape design: due to its massive and spreading crown, you can create a charming living corridor.
The plant will look great both as an element of the composition and as an individual and independent object.
Silver
The second common variety is silver maple. It is easy to identify due to the color of the leaves. The top is dark green and the bottom is silvery. On the inside, the leaves are velvety and pleasant to the touch. Mature trees reach a height of 40 meters, and the crown is 20 meters in diameter.
Maple is ideal for landscaping parks, squares, gardens and other areas.
Laciniatum Vieri
The maximum plant height is 15 meters. A low-growing variety is chosen if you need to decorate a small green area. The shape of the crown is asymmetrical. Shoots are covered with delicate and thin leaves. In the warm season, the foliage retains a bright green color with small silvery blotches on the back . With the arrival in the fall, it changes to lemon.
Bonsai
Some people consider bonsai to be a hotel variety, but this is not so. Bonsai is a special form of cultivation, during which the tree is given its characteristic shape. According to most gardeners, Canadian maple is ideal for creating cute and neat trees . It is possible to grow a tree in a roomy pot, but this is painstaking work. And you also need to be able to properly care for the plant, but the effort and time spent are fully compensated for by high aesthetic characteristics.
"Pyramidalis" (Pyramidale)
Another common species that reaches a height of 20 meters. The flowering period begins in early spring and the tree is covered with orange-red flowers. The crown is dense, oval. The color of the bark is gray (the surface is covered with small grooves). The foliage is dissected, and its color changes to yellow with the onset of autumn.
Landing
From annual shoots, you can grow strong and healthy maple seedlings, which then turn into beautiful trees. Young plants take root quickly, simplifying the task for gardeners.
To plant seedlings correctly, you need to adhere to a certain pattern
- Before transferring shoots to a permanent growing site, they must be hardened in the open air. Containers with plants are transferred to the street. The hardening time period is increased every day.
- Planting pits are prepared in advance. The optimum depth is at least 30 centimeters. It is recommended to deepen the tree trunk no deeper than 5 or 7 centimeters.
- When planting trees, you need to take into account the size and shape of the crown of an adult tree. Otherwise, the plants will interfere with each other during development. The recommended spacing is about 4 meters. Low-growing varieties are allowed to be planted closer to each other.
- After transferring the seedling to the site, abundant irrigation must be performed. Approximately 15 liters of clean water is used per plant.
Care
To care for the Canadian maple, you do not need to have special skills, so even a novice gardener will cope with the task. Trees are not afraid of severe frosts, withstanding up to 40 degrees below zero. For several weeks, the plant can do without watering and will feel normal even in dry and dry weather.
Young trees need regular and abundant watering, especially in summer, when the air temperature reaches its peak . The soil around the trees is periodically loosened so that a hard crust does not appear on the surface, and the roots receive a sufficient amount of oxygen. In a hot season, maples are watered once a week, spending 2 buckets per tree. In spring and autumn, irrigation is reduced to one procedure per month.
Despite their high resistance to extreme weather conditions, young and immature trees need protection . In November, the ground around the trunk is covered with spruce branches or dry foliage. Adult maples can easily do without shelter.
An obligatory component of agricultural technology is sanitary pruning, which is carried out in the spring. During work, they form the size of the crown and make it more accurate. After pruning, the shoots begin to grow more actively, as a result, the decorative qualities of the tree increase.
Only young maples, whose age is no more than 15 years old, are transplanted. With age, Canadian maples are more and more difficult to transfer to a new place. And also the work will be difficult to perform due to the spreading root system, large crown and trunk weight.
Reproduction methods
This variety reproduces in several ways:
- seedlings;
- seeds;
- layering.
With any of the options, you can achieve excellent results and healthy trees.
The method through seedlings or layering has become widespread, since the germination of seeds takes a very long time.
Seed method
The work begins with the need to collect the seed. It is not enough just to plant lionfish in the ground . To begin with, they are stratified. The seeds are placed in peat or sand for better germination. Maintain a temperature regime of no more than 3 degrees Celsius. There is no need to remove the grains from the impellers before germination.
The sowing procedure is carried out in April . The soil should be light, moist and rich in micronutrients. The seeds are deepened into the ground by 4-5 centimeters. After about two weeks, the first shoots can be observed. They grow very quickly, adding 60 centimeters each year. In about 7 years, a two-meter maple tree will already flaunt on the site.
The tree grows in height and width up to 25 years. After reaching this age, it begins to develop only in width. After 50 years, development either stops or slows down significantly.
Propagation using seedlings
If the seedlings were purchased in advance, they can be planted in the fall after the leaves have fallen, or in the spring. The ideal period is from March to April, before the buds bloom. The root system is carefully examined for defects and damage.
At the time of purchase, they make a choice in favor of plants with a whole and large earthy clod . The optimum depth of the planting pit is at least 0.5 meters. A portion of humus is laid in each pit. It will nourish the trees as they grow.
If seedlings without a coma are used, the work is carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the roots. They are carefully straightened, and the earth around is rammed and watered.
Using layering
This method is used by both beginners and experienced gardeners. The process begins with the fact that lignified cuttings are cut from the tree, which have reached a length of 25 centimeters. The work is carried out in the fall.
The cuttings need to be rooted in the sand and transferred to the basement so that the soil is slightly frozen . Trees are transplanted into the prepared soil in the spring. Some gardeners believe that cuttings can be cut in the spring without waiting for fall. They are treated with growth stimulants and planted in the ground, covered with a cut plastic bottle.
Note: in order for the plants to grow quickly and delight in beauty, they are planted in illuminated areas. Lack of sunlight leads to the fact that the leaves become small and lose color saturation.
Diseases and pests
The varieties of the Canadian maple tree boast a strong immune system, thanks to which serious diseases bypass trees. But sometimes maples can suffer from spotting. You can identify this ailment by the reddish spots that cover the leaves . To get rid of the disease, you need to remove the affected shoots. The branches are cut 15-20 centimeters below the affected area.
Cut off shoots should be destroyed as soon as possible, and used garden tools are disinfected. Otherwise, re-defeat is possible. Cutting places are treated with garden pitch.
Sometimes trees suffer from fungus . Experienced experts advise to prevent this ailment, than to deal with the treatment of a sick plant. In the spring, plants are treated with a fungicide solution. The procedure is carried out before the buds open.
Norway maple is sometimes attacked by pests:
- whitefly;
- weevils;
- mealybug.
The drug "Nitrafen" is highly effective. It is used to spray trees to protect them from insects.
Application
Canadian maple wood is used in the following areas:
- furniture manufacturing;
- production of parquet or single-ply plywood;
- facing.
High weight, strength and hardness are noted as properties. Today, door handles, gun butts, pins, plywood matrices are made from natural material. In the field of musical instruments (maple deck) wood from North America has also found its way.
Another use for the sugar tree is for making juicy maple syrup . The popular delicacy is made by cutting the trunk of a tree to collect the sap. After it is boiled to obtain a thick syrup. In America, syrup is often used as an additive to pancakes. In Russia, this delicacy is not in demand.
Note: The maple syrup industry generated over $ 100 million in profits in 1989.
You can meet sugar maple in parks, squares or along roads. Its varieties are often used for laying forest shelter belts. They close the roads from snow and wind. Maples that grow along the slopes often suffer from de-icing salt.
Due to its high decorative qualities, ease of cultivation and strong immunity, the Canadian maple is widely used in landscape design . Despite its great popularity, gardeners call it a tree of contradictions due to the combination of positive and negative qualities.
The main advantage is considered a thick, lush and dense crown. She immediately attracts the attention of others and looks elegant and expressive. When growing trees within the city, the variegated maple holds the leading position in terms of volume.
Neither the harsh conditions of large metropolitan areas, nor the polluted and noisy highways do not affect the growth and development of maple. In almost any conditions, it will retain its charming appearance. The decorative qualities of the tree increase significantly with the onset of autumn, when the leaves take on a new color.
Experts who have been working in the field of landscape design for several years note one significant drawback - the high vitality of maple . Just a few years is enough for the land to be covered with young trees. The wind blows the seeds in different directions, and they germinate quickly.
For this reason, Canadian maple is not used to decorate areas where flowers and short shrubs are grown.
The variety looks great with the following types of trees:
- birch;
- Oak trees;
- elms;
- dark conifers (fir and spruce).
Low-rise Canadian maple trees are perfect for Japanese gardens or rocky terrain. To increase their decorativeness, the living composition is complemented with large wooden elements.
Interesting Facts
- During the reign of Peter I, these trees were included in the lists of protected plants. They were used to decorate boyar and monastery gardens. Canadian maples are chosen primarily due to their simple care. And also the caterpillars hardly attack trees.
- Maple is one of the fastest growing trees around the world. It is also a melliferous plant. Bees can collect up to 200 kilograms of fragrant honey from one hectare of maple planting, so beekeepers paid attention to this species.
- Sweet juice has been extracted from time immemorial. This was also done by the Indians who inhabited the territory of North America. The volume of sugar content is up to 6%.
- Wood was used by our ancestors for the manufacture of cold steel handles. Even then, its strength was noted at its true worth.
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