Chinese Maple Tree
Growing tips for the Chinese Maple Tree
If you love magnificent trees, those with beautiful foliage and vibrant colors, the Chinese maple tree would be a perfect choice. In fact, because of the unique and bright colors of foliage throughout different times of the year, this particular tree has become one of the most popular. While the Chinese maple tree is somewhat similar to the Japanese maple tree, there are differences.
For starters, the Chinese maple tree reaches approximately 40 feet tall at maturity. For this reason, you want to choose the planting location carefully in that this tree would need adequate room and space between houses and other trees. Therefore, many plant and tree experts suggest that this tree be spaced 30 feet from a home or trees. The best locations for growing the Chinese maple tree are zones 7 through 9 although some people in other zones have had success.
Once the Chinese maple tree is mature it would begin to bloom in mid-spring. At the time, the leaves would be a beautiful shiny green. However, as fall approaches, the foliage would begin to change color to a deep orange, yellow, and/or vibrant red. In fact, you would also notice that the bark of this tree all year long is unique, making it a very attractive addition to any home.
Usually, the Chinese maple tree is planted where it gets full sunlight, which encourages more color and richer color in the fall but it actually grows best when provided with partial sunlight and partial shade. For water, this tree needs good, thorough watering but without over watering. The soil should be mildly acid to mildly alkaline while making sure it is not too extreme one way or the other.
As mentioned, some people confuse the Chinese maple tree with the Japanese maple tree. One difference is that the Japanese version can only grow in acidic soil whereas the Chinese version is more adaptable. When growing the Chinese maple tree, you also want to place mulch around the base, taking care that it does not touch any part of the tree. When during periods of dormancy, this tree should be pruned, removing dead branches while encouraging growth on areas without many branches.
Although you can still find the Chinese maple tree without much trouble, unfortunately, because this tree is being cut down all over China to make room for new housing construction, it is quickly becoming endangered in that country. For this reason, some people in China have established special nurseries where the Chinese maple tree is grown and propagated.
The Chinese maple tree is without doubt beautiful, a tree that stands tall and proud while displaying magnificent colors. If you want a powerful tree, one that produces amazing color, this would be one of the first trees to consider. With the Chinese maple tree also being easy to maintain, it is ideal for people with or without growing experience. Therefore, if you are looking for the perfect tree, we highly recommend the Chinese maple tree.