Acer

The genus Maple (Acer) includes about 200 species of deciduous trees and shrubs. The leaves are opposite, petiolate whole or pinnate, and acquire a bright color in autumn. The fruit is a double lionfish, the wings converge at different angles (a characteristic feature), are carried by the wind. One of the most common types in gardening is field maple (Acer campestre). It is a low (up to 15 m) tree with a broad, dense, spreading crown, small 3-5-lobed leaves with a soft contour of the blades, dark green leathery on top, yellowish - green on the bottom; in autumn they turn yellow or reddish. The leaves of the holly maple (A. platanoides) are large, 3-5-lobed, the ends and teeth along the edges are sharp, dark green. It has fast growth, lives up to 150 years, and is resistant to environmental pollution. Numerous decorative forms and varieties have bright foliage colors in spring and autumn. In the Schwedler form, the leaves are crimson-red in spring, turn intensely green in summer, and turn bronze in autumn. The Crimson King variety has bright red foliage in autumn. The variety 'Emerald Queen' is distinguished by a bright yellow autumn color of the leaves. The leaves of A. pseudoplatanus are large, often 5-lobed (the blades are shallow, pointed at the ends), dark green above, whitish or reddish below. The bark is smooth in young plants, and subsequently peels off in large, often rolled-up plates. Resistant to cold and wind. Let's name a few decorative forms. The leaves are dark purple on the reverse side, colored purple. In the form of white-mottled leaves first reddish, then white spots. Silver maple (A. saccharinum) has deeply incised leaves of 5 lobes, biconvex along the edge, silvery-white on the reverse side. It is characterized by rapid growth and withstands air pollution. Sugar maple (A. saccharum) has large, yellowish, indented 5-lobed leaves.

The genus Maple (Acer) includes about 200 species of deciduous trees and shrubs. The leaves are opposite, petiolate whole or pinnate, and acquire a bright color in autumn. The fruit is a double lionfish, the wings converge at different angles (a characteristic feature), are carried by the wind.

One of the most common types in gardening is field maple (Acer campestre). It is a low (up to 15 m) tree with a broad, dense, spreading crown, small 3-5-lobed leaves with a soft contour of the blades, dark green leathery on top, yellowish - green on the bottom; in autumn they turn yellow or reddish.

The leaves of the holly maple (A. platanoides) are large, 3-5-lobed, the ends and teeth along the edges are sharp, dark green. It has fast growth, lives up to 150 years, and is resistant to environmental pollution. Numerous decorative forms and varieties have bright foliage colors in spring and autumn. In the Schwedler form, the leaves are crimson-red in spring, turn intensely green in summer, and turn bronze in autumn. The Crimson King variety has bright red foliage in autumn. The variety 'Emerald Queen' is distinguished by a bright yellow autumn color of the leaves.

The leaves of A. pseudoplatanus are large, often 5-lobed (the blades are shallow, pointed at the ends), dark green above, whitish or reddish below. The bark is smooth in young plants, and subsequently peels off in large, often rolled-up plates. Resistant to cold and wind. Let's name a few decorative forms. The leaves are dark purple on the reverse side, colored purple. In the form of white-mottled leaves first reddish, then white spots.

Silver maple (A. saccharinum) has deeply incised leaves of 5 lobes, biconvex along the edge, silvery-white on the reverse side. It is characterized by rapid growth and withstands air pollution.

Sugar maple (A. saccharum) has large, yellowish, indented 5-lobed leaves.

Cultivation

Maples are grown in parks and gardens, both singly and in small groups, as well as in alley plantings along streets. In the final place in the ground, they are planted in October-March. For maples, loose, well-drained soil is preferred; maples do not tolerate stagnation of water. The plant develops better if the soil has been well treated and filled with fertilizers. With further care, pruning is usually not required. Remove only dry, ugly or incorrectly curved branches.

Location

Maples can be planted both in the open sun and in partial shade. However, decorative forms and varieties with bright foliage in the sun have a more intense color.

Temperature

Types of maple can withstand both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

Only young plants need to be watered, especially during prolonged droughts.

Reproduction

Types of maples are propagated by seed. Sowing is carried out in October in ordinary soil in a cold greenhouse or immediately in the open ground. Forms and varieties are propagated vegetatively-by grafting to seedlings.

Diseases

Maples are affected by aphids, which cause not only direct harm (by sucking the sap out of the plants), but also indirect (on the fall leaves allocated on the leaves appears black). Special preparations are used against aphids. In hot and dry weather, the spider mite is especially dangerous. Another tick, grape itch, causes thickening on the leaves. Mites are controlled by treating plants with acaricides. Sometimes the fungus Armillaria mellea settles on the trunks, causing rotting, which often leads to the death of the plant. Verticillous wilt (tracheomycosis) occurs due to fungi of the genus Verticillium (Verticillium). Plants affected by them are incurable and should be destroyed. Less dangerous is the disease provoked by the causative agent of the "black crust" Rhytisma acerinum - while crusty spots appear on the leaves. In this case, it is enough to remove the diseased leaves, and then treat the plant with a copper-based preparation, such as Bordeaux liquid.

Acquisition

The most common types and decorative forms and varieties of maples are easily found in specialized gardening centers and nurseries. The range includes both low - growing forms, which are easier to plant immediately in a permanent place, and medium-or high-growing ones. Large seedlings take root worse in their place in the garden or park. Buy plants in the spring, carefully checking that they are healthy.

Japanese maples Of the Japanese and Chinese species, several maples are widely distributed and promising in gardening. They are characterized by relatively small size and deeply indented, often brightly colored leaves. When growing them, they require well-drained, permeable soil, in no case calcareous. Japanese maple (Acer japonicum) is a compact species with deeply dissected leaves of 7-11 lobes; in spring and summer, the foliage color is light green, and later, in autumn, a magnificent purple. The blades of the fruit-double lionfish are located almost on the same straight line. There are many decorative forms of it; among them aconite-leafy with indented leaves that turn fiery red in autumn, and 'Ogurayama' with pale green or silvery leaves in young plants, in summer-intense green coloring, and in autumn - bright red. Palm-shaped or palm-shaped maple (Acer palmatum) is often shrubby, but trees with a rounded crown are also common. Light green leaves consist of 5-7 lobes, in autumn the leaves turn red, orange and yellow. This plant is characterized by slow growth. Famous throughout the world is one of the many decorative forms, the Italian FGI 'A glint of flame' of intense color. The dark purple form is characterized by crimson-bronze leaves even in summer. The dissected one has deeply incised green leaves, and the dissected dark purple one is derived from this form. with bright purple leaves and dissected yellowish, which leaves in spring are colored in light green-yellow tones. Raspberry royal has leaves of intense red color in summer, and in autumn - crimson. The same group of Japanese maples includes the David maple (A. davidii) and the Henry maple (A. henryi). Potted maples Seedlings grown in pots should be transplanted periodically (once every 1-2 years, depending on the size of the pot) to new ones. This should be done at the end of winter, while the plants are still growing. The soil should be loose and fertile - 2/3 turf land and 1/3 peat-sand mixture; soil pH-in the range of 5.5-6.0.

Japanese maples

Of the Japanese and Chinese species, several maples are widely distributed and promising in gardening. They are characterized by relatively small size and deeply indented, often brightly colored leaves. When growing them, they require well-drained, permeable soil, in no case calcareous.

Japanese maple (Acer japonicum) is a compact species with deeply dissected leaves of 7-11 lobes; in spring and summer, the foliage color is light green, and later, in autumn, a magnificent purple. The blades of the fruit-double lionfish are located almost on the same straight line. There are many decorative forms of it; among them aconite-leafy with indented leaves that turn fiery red in autumn, and 'Ogurayama' with pale green or silvery leaves in young plants, in summer-intense green coloring, and in autumn - bright red.

Palm-shaped or palm-shaped maple (Acer palmatum) is often shrubby, but trees with a rounded crown are also common. Light green leaves consist of 5-7 lobes, in autumn the leaves turn red, orange and yellow. This plant is characterized by slow growth. Famous throughout the world is one of the many decorative forms, the Italian FGI 'A glint of flame' of intense color. The dark purple form is characterized by crimson-bronze leaves even in summer. The dissected one has deeply incised green leaves, and the dissected dark purple one is derived from this form. with bright purple leaves and dissected yellowish, which leaves in spring are colored in light green-yellow tones. Raspberry royal has leaves of intense red color in summer, and in autumn - crimson. The same group of Japanese maples includes the David maple (A. davidii) and the Henry maple (A. henryi).

Potted maples

Seedlings grown in pots should be transplanted periodically (once every 1-2 years, depending on the size of the pot) to new ones. This should be done at the end of winter, while the plants are still growing. The soil should be loose and fertile - 2/3 turf land and 1/3 peat-sand mixture; soil pH-in the range of 5.5-6.0.