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Ash-leaved maple origin

The ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo), also known as the boxelder maple, is native to North America. There, it grows in riparian forests, along riverbanks, and in moist lowlands. Since the 17th century, it has been cultivated in Europe as a park and ornamental tree and has partially become naturalized.

Unlike other maple species, the ash-leaved maple has odd-pinnate leaves, which makes it visually more reminiscent of ash trees—hence its name. The green to yellow-green leaves usually consist of three to seven individual leaflets and sprout very early in the year. The ash-leaved maple grows quickly, reaching heights of between 10 and 20 meters and forming a broad, often irregular crown. Due to its rapid growth, it is often used for rapid greening.

Ash-leaved maple care and location

The ash-leaved maple is highly adaptable. It prefers bright, sunny locations, but can also thrive in partial shade. It is tolerant of soil conditions: sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils are equally acceptable – as long as they are not too dry or overly compacted.

  • A moist, permeable and nutrient-rich soil is ideal. 
  • Full sun promotes vigorous growth and a dense crown. 
  • The tree is frost-hardy and copes well with urban climates. 
  • A consistent water balance is especially important during the early stages. Despite its robustness, you should avoid planting the tree in overly dry locations, as its shallow root system will quickly reach its limits there.

Cutting ash-leaved maple

A regular Video editing is not absolutely necessary for the ash-leaved maple. However, due to its rapid growth, it can be beneficial to occasionally thin it out or keep the crown in shape. It's best to prune during the dormant period—between November and February—when the weather is frost-free. Remove damaged, crowded, or crossing shoots. Training pruning in the first few years also helps develop a uniform crown. If you prune the tree more heavily, make sure to make clean cuts and not cut too deeply into the old wood, as the ash-leaved maple can react sensitively to serious injuries.

Do you need to fertilize ash-leaved maples?

The ash-leaved maple generally thrives on the nutrients found in garden soil. On very nutrient-poor or heavily soiled soils, you can support it in spring with some mature compost or horn shavings.

Find here an mulch layer Bark mulch or leaves also protects against drying out and improves soil structure in the long term. You should avoid chemical fertilizers—the ash-leaved maple grows quickly enough anyway.

Water ash-leaved maple properly!

The ash-leaved maple needs a uniform Water supply. During the first three to five years after planting, the soil should never dry out completely. Even later, it is sensitive to long dry periods. Water regularly and thoroughly – ideally in the morning or evening. The soil should be moist, but not wet. Allow the top layer of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, without allowing the root zone to dry out.

For efficient irrigation, the baumbad watering bag It's particularly effective. You simply place it around the trunk, zip it up, and fill it with 75 to 100 liters of water. This water is released drop by drop over several hours – exactly where it's needed: at the roots. This method not only reduces water loss through evaporation but also reliably supplies the tree over longer periods. It's especially helpful for young trees or during hot periods. Even for larger trees, several bags can be connected together.

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