Planting Autumn Blaze Maple Trees has its own charm. This autumn tree provides an unusual sight. The yellow leaves like flames give a beautiful and amazing impression. This can provide an alternative to provide beauty to a beautiful landscape in a large area.
Autumn Blaze Maple Trees are hybrids of red and silver maple trees. Both types of maple plants are native to North America, where one of the characteristics is the branches that grow densely and rise to the top with a round and oval crown. The Autumn Blaze Maple plant grows so fast that it can grow up to two feet in just a year. While in autumn, the leaves turn into a brilliant orange-red and give extraordinary beauty.
Botanical Name | Acer x freemanii (Jeffersred) ‘Autumn Blaze’ |
Common Name | Autumn blaze maple tree, Freeman maple |
Plant Type | Tree |
Mature Size | 40–55 ft. tall, 30–40 ft. wide |
Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial shade |
Soil Type | Moist but well-drained |
Soil pH | Acidic |
Bloom Time | Does not flower |
Flower Color | Does not flower |
Hardiness Zones | 3–8 (USDA) |
Native Area | North America (1) |
How to Care for Autumn Blaze Maple Tree?
For those of you who want to plant maple this fall, you must know how to care for it. This tree needs a little care to get the maximum mash with good results. The important thing in caring for Autumn Blaze Maple Tree is to maintain soil moisture in the root system, especially when it is young. In addition, an important form of maple care is pruning. Pruning can be every five years or every three years, this is done in early summer or late spring. In addition, you also have to pay attention to fertilization if you plant in less nutritious soil or in large pots. However, for planting on fertile land, fertilizer is not so important.
Planting Autumn Blaze Maple Trees has many benefits and functions, this plant can be used as a shady shelter, and as a plant that spreads its beauty when the leaves turn reddish orange. This plant is also tolerant and resistant to pollution so you can plant it along crowded and polluted roads. This tree with beautiful leaves can grow in a variety of soils and includes trees that are suitable for decorating urban areas.
However, Autumn Blaze Maple Trees also have their drawbacks, where this plant is not very strong against storms, it can easily break branches or cracks sometimes. So it is very important to do regular pruning to prevent the heavy load of the tree so as to reduce the risk of breaking or cracking branches. Another drawback is the shallow root system, this can cause the roots of this plant to access your front yard or enter your terrace.
Light
The autumn blaze maple tree is a large tree that decorates your yard, it includes trees that shade other plants and very rarely other plants can shade it because it grows tall and big. So it needs full sun, but can still tolerate partial sun, especially if you plant it in an area with warm temperatures.
If, you want to produce beautiful and colorful autumn blaze maple leaves, then the option is to plant in full sun.
More: The World’s Largest Vine Grows in Hampton Court palace
Soil
The next consideration in planting autumn blaze maple is the soil. Soil with good porosity and good drainage is a good choice. The more moist the soil, the more mixture, the better for growth.
When planting the first time, you have to dig a rather large hole, maybe three times as big or five times as big as the root lump. Then, when you’ve put the lumps in the holes, make sure they’re level with the soil line and more importantly don’t plant them close to the house. You can plant with a distance of about 15 to 20 feet from the foundation of your house so that the root system when it is big does not hit your house.
Water
Autumn blaze maple needs a lot of water and adequate watering when you first plant it, this is to help it grow. Take care to keep the soil next to it moist in the first year. Once established and starting to grow well, it will tolerate drought, and it will do well with any rainfall in your area.
If you notice that the leaves are brown or falling from the tree prematurely, this could be a sign that your plant is not getting enough water.
Also see: What is Papaturro Tree
Temperature and Humidity
How about the temperature? Autumn blaze maple tree can tolerate all temperatures even near freezing temperatures, hot temperatures or high humidity temperatures, all of which are not a big problem for this plant if it is growing well. Its ability to adapt to various temperatures means you don’t have to worry about this problem.
Fertilizer
As we mentioned, if you plant in open ground with fertile soil you don’t have to worry about applying fertilizer, unless you plant it in pots or on malnourished soil.
Fertilize autumn blaze maple 4 times a year with 7-4-4 all purpose plant food.
Maple Tree Varieties
The autumn maple tree is a very popular plant for landscape decoration. This is due to its beautiful leaves. This beauty is what many people want. So, when you choose a maple tree, be careful because there are also those whose leaves don’t turn red in the fall. Here are some types of autumn blaze maple trees that you need to know to be able to get beautiful leaf types during autumn.
- Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum): This type has yellow-orange foliage come fall.
- Amur maple (Acer ginnala): This is a type of maple that is invasive in North America.
- ‘Armstrong’: This species can grow much taller than autumn blaze (up to 70 feet), spreads more narrowly and does not take up large areas.
- ‘Marmo’: This type has a columnar but less-pronounced form.
Pruning Autumn Blaze Maple Tree
This is a tree that needs care and among the things that need attention is pruning. The best time to prune an Autumn Blaze Maple Tree is in late winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant.
Regular pruning, such as every three years or five years, is important to give the tree the ability to maintain its shape, prevent major damage, prevent branch breakage during hurricane season or other bad weather.
Common Pests and Diseases
Autumn Blaze Maple trees are also sometimes attacked by pests and diseases. One sign that this plant has been attacked by pests is by looking at the damaged leaves, you will see the leaves appear brown spots. The way to deal with this disease is to spray it using a fungicide.
Among the pests that can cause damage to the Autumn Blaze Maple Tree are scales, tree borers, mites and others. If you find any signs of ticks such as finding sores on the trunk, brown on the leaves, or any wounds on the branches and stems, then treat the maple tree immediately using insecticide until all types of lice die and disappear.