Planting and Management Methods for Maple Seedlings
Do you know these? The planting and management methods of maple seedlings and the best time for transplanting maple trees will be introduced by the site editor for netizens.
I. Red Maple Seedlings are divided into two types according to the propagation methods:
1. Cutting Seedlings: Suitable for spring planting, their root systems are mainly horizontal. If planted in autumn, due to the large temperature difference and the cold winter, the seedlings will enter dormancy. Especially in the northern regions where winters are extremely cold, the mortality rate of cutting seedlings is very high!
2. Grafted Seedlings: The characteristics of these red maple seedlings are that the rootstocks are propagated by seed sowing, and the root systems are mainly vertical. The advantages are strong resistance to various conditions, such as cold and drought resistance. The disadvantage is that during windy weather, the grafting joint is easily broken! Therefore, grafted seedlings are more suitable for autumn planting.
II. The germination rate of red maples is related to the following factors:
1. Planting Time of Red Maple Seedlings:
Generally, red maple seedlings planted in autumn germinate late because they have to go through a long winter dormancy before they can germinate normally in spring. If planted in spring, red maple seedlings generally germinate early. This is because the spring temperature rises rapidly, and if planted in mid-March in the northern regions, they can germinate in about 20 days.
2. Depth of Planting Red Maple Seedlings:
Generally, seedlings planted too deep germinate late. Deep planting results in slow soil warming after sunlight hits the soil, delaying the time roots contact heat, and thus delaying germination. Shallow planting does not have this issue, and as long as temperatures rise quickly in spring, the soil temperature will also rise quickly, allowing shallow-planted seedlings to germinate soon.
3. Freshness of Red Maple Seedlings:
If the red maple seedlings are purchased nearby, they can be dug up quickly, transported over a short distance, and planted quickly, resulting in slow water loss and good freshness of the seedlings. Even if some large roots are temporarily cut, it will not affect their rapid germination and survival. Conversely, if the seedlings are transported over a long distance, the rapid loss of moisture from the cut roots, sometimes even before they arrive, can significantly affect the germination rate and survival rate of the seedlings, especially during the winter dormancy period when it is difficult for outsiders to tell from the appearance of the red maple seedlings. After planting a large number of seedlings, it is often found that the red maple seedlings germinate very late the following spring, with a limited number of seedlings germinating, significantly affecting the survival rate.
III. To improve the survival rate of red maple seedlings and ensure rapid germination, efforts should be made in the following aspects:
1. Choose Sandy Soil for Seedling Planting:
Usually, red maple seedlings are first grown in small sizes and then transplanted to larger sizes when they reach a certain specification. Planting small seedlings in sandy soil not only ensures a high survival rate but also speeds up the recovery process. The characteristics of sandy soil are good aeration, water permeability, and rapid root warming. The disadvantage is poor water and fertilizer retention, requiring frequent fertilization.
2. Pay Special Attention! "Shallow Planting" is Essential:
Generally, no matter what type of land is chosen for planting red maple, the deeper the planting, the less likely it is to germinate, especially for seedlings that are difficult to survive from cutting propagation. Countless practices have proven that deeper planting leads to faster death.
3. Auxiliary Management after Watering Red Maple Seedlings:
After red maple seedlings are planted, they must be watered thoroughly. As soon as the soil slightly dries, workers should be arranged to straighten the seedlings and cover the roots with soil. Neglecting this can significantly affect the yield rate of high-quality seedlings! Exposed roots that are not covered with soil can easily lead to poor survival rates!
4. Pay Attention to Adjusting Soil pH:
Since red maple seedlings are a type of slightly acidic plants, special attention must be paid to the alkalinity of the soil in the planting area. There was a case where a nursery owner transported a batch of 3 cm diameter magnolia seedlings from Xiangfan, Hubei, to different nursery sites and encountered a piece of land with excessive alkalinity, resulting in significant losses. If a white "frost-like" substance appears on the soil surface after watering, it indicates excessive soil alkalinity. Two solutions can be adopted: one is the use of "phosphate slag" produced by fertilizer factories, which has an acidic chemical property and can be spread and tilled over a large area. The other is the use of large packs of ferrous sulfate, diluted and irrigated with water, both of which can effectively improve soil alkalinity.
5. Prevent underground pests from causing harm:
If individual seedlings suddenly die after germination, it is important to observe whether it is due to underground pests. The main types of underground pests that harm the roots of seedlings are: grubs, ground beetles, and nematodes. These pests mainly feed on the roots of seedlings. If such a situation is detected, it is necessary to purchase two types of pesticides from the agricultural market to kill them: soil bacteria and insect killer, and phosphorus trichloride preparations.
As the saying goes, "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated; plan in advance and win thousands of miles away." Only by doing the preliminary work well can we be prepared and improve the survival rate of red maple seedlings.
The above is the specific content of the planting and management methods of maple seedlings and the best time for transplanting maple trees. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited!