When is the best time to prune American red maple trees
Today's focus will introduce when it is best to prune American red maple trees and the introduction of green plants and flowers regarding the pruning time and methods. Let's learn about it together below.
American red maple is native to the East Coast of the United States, mainly from the northern regions of the United States, and is a deciduous tree. Due to its striking autumn colors and neat canopy, it is widely used in parks, communities, and street plantings. It can be used for landscaping and as a street tree, loved by many. It is one of the ideal rare tree species introduced in recent years for urban beautification and greening and is the only colored-leaf species that can be used as a street tree. American red maple adapts to a wide range of regions and can be planted extensively in North China, Northwest China, and the Yangtze River Valley. Its post-planting management is also very important. Below, the editor provides a detailed introduction to the key points of planting and management of American red maple, hoping to provide assistance to everyone.
I. Branch and Trunk Management
1. Pruning Pruning should be done in the stage between germination and before defoliation. This is a key point that distinguishes American red maple from other tree species. Pruning after defoliation can cause sap to flow, affecting growth. Of course, newly planted large seedlings must be pruned heavily to aid in survival.
2. Pay attention to straightening the trunk of newly planted American red maple trees. It is best to insert a hard rod and tie it with soil to prevent it from leaning. For individual crooked red maple seedlings, it is recommended to tie them with three wide red ropes to force them to grow straight. Cut off the red ropes after two years, using wide red ropes for easy observation and timely pruning, while preventing the trunk from being strangulated. If newly planted American red maple seedlings are not straightened during the summer growth period, their well-developed roots will make it very difficult to straighten them later.
3. For large American red maple seedlings planted for more than a year, it is necessary to cut off the competing top branches promptly, retaining only one main leader. Prevent the occurrence of double or multiple leaders. The top dominance of American red maple is not obvious, and multiple top shoots that appear in spring and summer must be pruned promptly. Generally speaking, after two to three years of pruning, American red maple trees with a diameter of 6 centimeters or more can grow freely without the need to remove competing branches.
II. Fertilization Management
Do not apply base fertilizer to American red maple seedlings planted in the fall of the previous year or in the spring of the current year. Wait until the new roots are fully grown, and after June, apply urea as top dressing, 60-80 jin per mu, at a distance of more than 80 centimeters from the tree roots, either by hole application or broadcasting and tillage. Since the growth of newly planted red maple seedlings is not significant, excessive fertilization is a waste. It is best to broadcast 40 kilograms of ternary compound fertilizer per mu in August, which helps the branches lignify and is beneficial for safe overwintering. In the north of the Yellow River, the last application of fertilizer should not be too late to prevent new branches from drying and withering in winter. For American red maple trees older than one year, the amount of fertilizer should be increased, applied early, frequently, and in large quantities, starting with high-nitrogen fertilizer followed by compound fertilizer. Apply 60 jin of urea per mu in May, water immediately after broadcasting; apply 200 jin of calcium hydrogen ammonium per mu in June; and in August, apply 100 jin of calcium hydrogen ammonium and 80 jin of ternary compound fertilizer. All hole applications should be at a distance of more than 80 centimeters from the tree, and watering is necessary after fertilization.
III. Pest and Disease Control
1. American red maple rarely has diseases, but it is important not to neglect management due to fewer diseases. Every winter and spring, apply lime sulfur solution to the white tree trunks, making sure to apply it high, which can kill overwintering eggs and pathogens on the bark, greatly reducing the incidence of pests and diseases the following year, and making the trunks smoother and cleaner, improving the quality of the tree shape. Tree bark injuries during transplantation can cause ulcers, which can be treated with wound healing agents to promote rapid healing without leaving scars.
2. Control of longicorn beetles and caterpillars. The sweet leaves of American red maple are easily invaded by longicorn beetles and caterpillars. Furadan or chlorpyrifos granules can be applied around the roots around Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day) to prevent underground pests from eating the roots of red maple, and their systemic action can kill overwintering pests in the bark. Lambda-cyhalothrin is effective against longicorn beetles and should be sprayed three times at intervals in early June, early July, and late July, covering the leaves, trunks, and roots, effective against longicorn beetles and various pests.
3. Red spider mites should not be overlooked. Red spider mites usually occur from late June to late September during consecutive hot and dry periods. They are rare in southern areas with frequent rain and in northern areas during continuous rainy seasons, mainly occurring in dry northern regions, especially in the Central Plains and North China regions. If there is a forecast for several days of drought without rain during the hot season, it is necessary to spray the leaves with pesticides in advance. There are many pesticides for controlling red spider mites, but they should not be used repeatedly to avoid resistance. It is recommended to alternate the use of miticides such as daminozide, pyridaben, and abamectin.
以上[] introduces when it is best to prune American red maple trees and detailed information about pruning time and methods. Do you understand now?