How to Plant a King Crimson Red Leaf Maple Tree
Plant Crimson King red leaf maple trees (Acer platanoides ) for brilliant fall color without excessive mess and maintenance. Crimson King maples have an intense, dense maroon foliage all summer. These stately maples will attain a height of over 50 feet, spreading about 25 to 30 feet. They are hardy from zones 4-7.
The tree is easily transplanted, grows rapidly and is adaptable to a wide variety of conditions including alkaline, acid, clay and sandy soils. Crimson King maples are strong trees that resist ice damage, disease, fierce winds and winter cold.
Urban dwellers love these trees as they are not affected by car exhaust and they do not drop seed pods.
Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Planting Your Maple Trees
-
1
Choose a sunny, well-drained location. When picking a spot to plant a Crimson King red leaf maple tree, consider the size of the tree at maturity. Locate the tree to avoid property boundaries, utility lines or buried pipes, buildings and other trees.
-
2
Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the tree's root mass. Set aside the soil removed from the hole.
Fill the hole with water and allow to drain.
-
-
3
Using a rake or screen, sift the top soil removed from the hole to eliminate rocks, weeds and old tree roots.
-
4
Mix equal parts of sifted top soil, mulch and organic compost.
-
5
Place the tree in the planting hole to the depth that it was previously planted. This can be determined by examining the tree stem.
Make sure that the tree is aligned straight up vertically. Back-fill the planting hole with the three-part mixture. As you add the soil mixture, also add water. Tamp the soil down gently around the roots to avoid air pockets.
Refill the hole in stages. Add soil and water and allow to drain and settle, then add more soil and water and repeat the process until the hole is refilled.
Protecting Your Tree
-
6
When the planting hole has been filled and allowed to settle, cover the planted area with sheet mulching--newspaper, torn cardboard or a 2-inch layer of aged sawdust.
Top-dress with decorative bark, mulch or gravel.
-
7
If the tree trunk is flexible, provide staking to keep the tree growing straight and upward.
-
8
If you live in an area where wildlife is prone to nibble on new growth, a wire fence or cage should be placed around the tree until it has a chance to mature.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When mulching around the tree, keep the mulch two inches away from the trunk of the tree to discourage fungus and insects.
Do not lift the tree by the stem. Lift by the root mass. Tugging on the stem can damage delicate feeder roots.
