There are many other species of shade trees available with fewer problems that will provide beauty in the landscape. When selecting a new shade tree for the landscape, do not settle for the easy and over-planted red maple. More established trees should be deeply soaked on a monthly basis. In addition, young red maples less then five years old should be watered on a regular basis throughout dry periods. Avoid stress on the tree that would lead to trunk injury and prune properly to improve the branch structure. If you have a red maple in the landscape, what can you do? The easiest answer is to provide good care. It is a rapid growing tree, with a well-formed rounded crown that is an ideal choice for a shade tree on your lawn, for a specimen tree anywhere in. Scorch occurs when the plant loses more moisture through the leaf tissue than can be supplied by the root and vascular system, such as during periods of prolonged drought. The Autumn Flame Red Maple is a selected form of the native red maple tree, with outstanding fall colors of crimson and scarlet, turning red early in the season and holding well throughout the fall. This growth will eventually drop from the tree. The new growth that emerges in the spring can be killed back, turning a blackened color. This disease happens almost every year depending on weather patterns.Īnother alarming concern with red maples in the spring is tip dieback. Control of anthracnose is not recommended as it is not serious but does cause concern and leaves the tree looking less desirable. The infected leaf drops from the tree, leaving a thin canopy, which reduces the energy available to the tree for proper growth. The leaf disease results in black spots covering the leaves. This disease is most severe under cooler and moist spring conditions. A foliar disease called anthracnose can be hard on these trees. Other, less serious problems can also plague these trees.
Because of these problems, they are not the best choice for a long-term shade tree in the Kansas City area. They are slow to establish, have poor branching structure and, most importantly, they are susceptible to long-term trunk injury or damage, which results in internal rot and decay. Red maple trees are popular but suffer from a number of problems. You can stop feeding the tree when it turns scarlet red because this is a sign the tree is about to enter its dormant stage.Return to Trees and Shrubs Agent Articles You will need to provide the sapling with about 1½ inches of water each week during its growing cycle and you will need to provide it with a basic 10-10-10 fertilizer twice a month during the spring and once a month during the summer. Finally, you need to select a spot where your tree will get enough water to keep its soil moist. If your soil is basic as opposed to acidic you can increase the pH by adding peat moss or pine needles to the soil. Select a spot that has well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH level. This will help prevent excessive moisture loss because of direct exposure to the sun. To help protect the saplings during their first couple of years you should plant them in a spot that has partial shade. If you plant a sapling in the summer months, you will want to plant it in the shade and provide it with enough water to keep its surrounding soil moist. If you miss an early spring planting, make sure that your sapling is in the ground for at least six weeks before you expect the first frost of fall to strike to provide your sapling enough time to establish its root system and to gain strength. An early planting will give your sapling plenty of time to establish a new root system before the temperatures become hot. The ideal time for planting red maples is in the early spring.
Until you are ready to plant it, keep it in the shade and keep its soil moist. If you purchased your red maple tree sapling from a local grower or merchant, then your sapling will most likely come in a container with dirt. This will help to stimulate the sapling and help restore its strength. In order to prepare your sapling for planting you will need to remove it from the box, lay it flat on the ground, spread out its roots and branches, and sprinkle the entire plant with water.
This means that the roots will be dry and free of dirt. If you purchase your red maple tree sapling from a mail-order company, it should arrive in a box as a bare root plant. However, once your sapling matures into an established tree, it will be able to provide you with shade and be a visually stunning display for your landscaping. This phase of the tree’s life cycle is very delicate because the sapling can easily be damaged or killed if it is not given the care it needs.
A red maple tree sapling is a red maple that is less than two years old.