Spectacular beauty of maple at any time of the year
Maple. The curly, lush crown, carved leaf and the majestic frame of the tree prompted many poets and rhyme-writers to compose real hits. Until now, millions listen to these songs and sing them. More than half of the 150 varieties of this perennial plant are found in the Northern Hemisphere. They are represented by large shrubs or massive giants, reaching 40 m in height, like a 16-storey building. The average age of specimens is 200 years, with a higher strength - 500.
Having become better acquainted with some species of the Sapindova family, you can choose a suitable option for your garden. Read about Tatar honeysuckle!
A perennial plant is propagated with the help of seedlings and cuttings. In some cases, seeds are planted in open ground to a depth of 10 cm. April is the best time for this method.
"Ash-leaved", aka "American"
Ash-leaved maple was brought to Russia from North America (USA and Canada) at the end of the 18th century. Therefore, the variety is ideal for taking root in spacious and sunny areas. If the soil is nutritious and moist, then the trunk stretches up to 20-23 m. The peculiarity of the culture is its incredible vitality. The strong root system produces many growths. As a result, new exhibits appear around the tree, forming whole groves. The same result is produced by seeds that ripen by autumn. They are presented in the form of lionfish and resemble miniature hang gliders. In the wild, the plant lives up to 100 years of age.
A kind of American maple differs from other representatives:
- The shape of the leaves. It has a complex structure, since 3-5 plates are located on one branch. Their underside is covered with fine down, and the outside is smooth, but with a darker color. The pointed foliage with jagged edges is somewhat reminiscent of ash.
- "Aggressive character." Naturalists also call it a hardy weed. It grows and multiplies so quickly that it displaces all neighbors from the site. In this case, even cutting down does not help.
- Branches. The trunk lets out long, spreading shoots. They come in green as well as olive shades with a red tint. The hardened branches are covered with a bluish or purple bloom.
Ash maple can withstand sudden temperature changes, up to -35 ° C. Feels comfortable in large metropolitan areas with gas-polluted air. Due to the fact that the wood is very fragile, and the trunk is curved and short, it is not used in landscaping. This species is mainly planted in order to quickly green the site.
One tree contains both male and female inflorescences. The former are presented in the form of hanging tufts with red anthers, and the latter - with green tassels.
"Holly" - the main thing is not to get hurt
The culture is so named because the wide leaves (up to 18 cm in diameter) have sharp edges. Their appearance resembles a human palm with five fingers. Only a plant has blades with pronounced veins. A light breath of breeze, and the grove explodes into thunderous applause. Such a spectacle looks especially impressive in autumn, when the trees are dressed in red and burgundy "dresses".
It is worth adding to the botanical description:
- maximum height - 30 m;
- the bark of young seedlings is reddish-gray with fine furrows, and over time it becomes lighter;
- green inflorescences with a lemon shade are located on the shields that adorn the crown for 10 days in May;
- in the 17th year, it begins to bear fruit in the form of lionfish with two flat seeds.
Norway maple prefers to grow vigorously only on slightly acidic, moist, fertile and loose soil. Although the variety is photophilous, it is still loyal to semi-shaded areas. In such conditions, the tree propagates by seeds, as well as by shoots. Gardeners have successfully used grafting techniques to expand their plantations. The first three years have seen active growth. During this period, they are transplanted.
When choosing a seedling, you should pay attention to the variety of Drummand Norway maple. Its crown has an unusual coloring. It consists of many green leaves with a white / light green edging. Such an exhibit will become an exclusive example of a local park or garden.
The foliage often has brown, watery spots caused by fungal spores. Coral spot also affects the bark. If you do not cut off diseased branches and damaged areas, then the tree will eventually die.. Sections are treated with a disinfectant.
"Spherical" like a globe
To create a stylish landscape interior, spherical maple is suitable. It does not need pruning, as it acquires a rounded shape as it grows. The crown of the tree is so dense that it does not let in daylight. It grows to a greater extent in breadth (up to 5 m). In summer, this alley will delight passers-by with different shades of green, and in autumn - yellow. Combined with dark bark, the original leaf ball looks amazing.
Like all other types of holly leaves, the culture is demanding on the choice of soil. On acidic, sandy, acidic and poor soils, the tree dries up. Too compacted areas also negatively affect the branched root system.
Sometimes branches appear that grow incorrectly. They should be removed immediately. This also applies to dry, diseased areas of the plant.
Amazing "black"
Even in nature, the classics always remain unchanged. Black maple is a vivid confirmation of this. The second name of this "handsome" is "Royal Red" or royal red. A grove / alley of young seedlings is able to turn a simple estate into an imperial castle. The scarlet-black crown reaches 10 meters in width, at a height of 15 m.In spring and autumn, it acquires a brighter shade of red. In May, scarlet inflorescences with a slight lemon tint bloom on the tree, after which lionfish appear.
The Royal Red variety is very picky about growing conditions:
- photophilous;
- dries up with a lack of moisture;
- begins to rot in swampy areas;
- he only needs light and sandy loam soils.
Black maple belongs to the genus Holly. Therefore, the shape and cut of the leaves is the same - wide plates with 5-7 lobes. The culture is used exclusively for landscape decoration. The tree grows 40 cm per year.
"White" - with an ear for music
Violin, harp, guitar and domras. These musical instruments are made from white maple wood. It has a beautiful shiny texture. The boards are so strong that they withstand mechanical stress and do not deform under the influence of moisture. Also, the material is widely used in the manufacture of furniture, fittings and parquet.
In addition to such features, naturalists also note a number of botanical characteristics of the tree:
- height 20-40 m;
- the branched root system reaches a depth of 1.5 meters;
- the smooth bark is at first gray in color, and with age it darkens and begins to peel off;
- trunk girth - up to 1 meter;
- foliage (10-15 cm) of an emerald hue;
- greenish-yellow inflorescences (20-50 pcs. on the shield) emit a fragrant aroma;
- round seeds (5-10 mm each) are located in the lionfish.
Maple sycamore (one of the common names) is famous for its spreading and dense crown.Its leaves, branches, bark and flowers have medicinal properties. According to one study, about 45 different diseases can be cured with tinctures as well as decoctions.
After harvesting, the bark is dried in a special installation at 50 ° C until it becomes loose. Raw materials should be stored in cardboard (ventilated) boxes for no more than 3 years.
"Tatarsky" - the true spirit of the nation
The amazing combination of red inflorescences and green leaves touches to the core. The endurance of the variety is striking. The Tatar maple survives in harsh winters, although the southern regions are considered its homeland. It tolerates dry weather very well. Saline soils and exhaust fumes rarely harm the plant.
This variety attracts many unique features:
- the maximum height of a tree or shrub is 10 m;
- the bark is black and smooth;
- dense crown has a spherical shape;
- oval leaves with raised edges are painted bright green, and there is a fluffy cover on the veins;
- against a green background, lionfish stand out with a fiery red hue.
The variety is highly adaptable to many conditions. So, the gardener does not need to look for a special place for the maple. Like all crops, the Tatar maple grows best in open areas with light shade.
The planting hole is made of medium size: the depth is 50 cm, and the width is 80 cm. The roots generally grow in breadth, so you should not bury the seedling too much.
"Ginnala" - crimson autumn
The culture was brought to Europe from the Far East. In Mongolia, China and Korea, whole groves of this plant adorn the shores of reservoirs, so its middle name is riverside. The Ginnala maple belongs to the class of shrubs, although the crown stretches up to 5 meters. It acquires a conical shape and looks like an outstretched tent 7 m long.
The characteristic features of this variety:
- at first it has an orange-yellow color, and later it acquires a fiery red hue;
- blooms (for 21 days) with pastel-colored panicles, which exude a pleasant fragrance;
- oblong leaves with three lobes, the longest of which is 8 cm.
If in the summer the seedlings are watered with 20 liters of water every week, then in a year it will add up to 25 cm in growth and volume. In the autumn-spring season, this amount of liquid is enough for a month. Top dressing in the form of humus and mineral fertilizer will play a key role in this matter.
The roots should not be buried too deep in the ground. Five centimeters is the optimal soil height near the root collar.
"Japanese" - the prototype of sakura
A small, tent-shaped tree is used as a decoration for parks and gardens. The bright red leaves of a perennial plant look stunning in the rays of the autumn sun. Depending on the angle at which the light falls, they shimmer in purple, pink or orange. This fire show from Japanese maple has made it a favorite of many gardeners.
Before planting such a luxury, it is important for a gardener to know:
- the seedling grows very slowly until it reaches 3-5 m in height;
- for planting, choose only moist soil with a slightly acidic reaction;
- the site should be well lit and without drafts;
- the variety is adapted for growing in a container;
- wood does not tolerate lime treatment.
In hot weather, red maple is very often watered - up to 15 liters at a time. Until August, the seedling is fed with fertilizers and abundantly irrigated. Luxurious leaves, which can have up to 13 blades, are desirable to spray. In this case, the water should not stagnate in the soil. As the crop grows, it is pruned to give the crown the desired shape.
Since the root system is very close to the surface, it is important to make an insulating floor. By constantly leveling the soil around the tree and increasing its supply, the gardener will provide reliable protection in both drought and frost.
"Canadian" - immortalized on the coin and flag of the country
Because the perennial plant produces sweet sap, it is also called sugar maple. Durable wood in its characteristics is not inferior even to oak.
It is worth adding to the description of this species that:
- the crown is thick and wide;
- the light gray trunk has many coarse grooves, from which branches of a red-brown color, smooth with a slight sheen, branch off;
- the trunk is higher than 40 m;
- simple leaves with 5 lobes attached on long petioles;
- this variety is considered a long-liver, because its age is calculated in centuries;
- inflorescences of the Canadian maple are collected in voluminous brushes, consisting of 14 miniature flowers.
It is worth knowing that the old branches of a perennial plant are quite fragile, therefore they break in a strong wind or hurricane. Therefore, it is planted in closed areas. Near it there can be both oak and coniferous varieties. Its dense foliage is home to many birds, as well as forest dwellers.
Although the variety tolerates frosts calmly, it still needs wrapping in the first years of life.
The sugar variety has a "close relative" - the silver maple. It differs from him in a wide crown, which grows up to 20 meters. In this case, the branches are located on a short trunk (2 m). The culture got its unique name because of the amazing structure of the leaves. They are presented in the form of 14 cm plates with 5 blades. The upper surface is green, and the lower one is gray with a delicate fleecy coating. As a result, chaotic gusts of wind can turn a tree into a silver sea. In the fall, the picture changes. The plant dresses in a yellow-orange "outfit" that burns with fire in the morning sun.
"Field" - plain specimen
A distinctive feature of the field maple is an unusual leaf shape. Large plates have 3 to 5 shallow cuts. Long (13 cm) petioles give them an amazing look. Thanks to this, a volumetric crown is formed (up to 8 m). This gorgeous "hat" rests on a thin trunk, the diameter of which is 60 cm. In May, small inflorescences bloom on it and delight the eyes of the owners for about 15 days. By mid-autumn, seeds appear in place of the fruits. Unlike other species, the lionfish of the field species has horizontally located wings. Nevertheless, the tree does not grow more than 15 meters.
Spring or autumn, young or one hundred years old, maple always looks charming. For this reason, gardeners choose only his permanent exhibit of their personal plots.