Planting Norway maple - tips for garden owners

The Norway maple enchants with its beautiful coloring in autumn. Under certain conditions, the tree can also be planted in the garden.

Norway maple is a common representative in our towns and villages. The trees grow along the roadside, as well as in gardens and parks. The soap tree plants are particularly eye-catching when most of the other trees are still bare and dreary. The first green of spring along the path often comes from the green-yellow blossom umbels of the Norway maple. The trees grow up to 30 meters high and form spreading crowns with a diameter of more than 20 meters. Not every garden appears suitable for planting. However, if you have the possibilities of cultivation, you can find out here what you should pay attention to when planting the Norway maple.

Norway maple: plant description

The deciduous trees are also called pointed-leaf maple and can reach an age of up to 200 years. Young trees have smooth light brown bark. In older plants, the bark turns grey-brown and gets longitudinal cracks. If the leaves or twigs are injured, milky sap will escape. The leaves are arranged opposite. The upright umbel flowers are similar to the field maple. The flowers appear in April, before the leaves sprout. The pairs of winged nuts develop from the blossoms.

Distribution of Norway Maple

Norway maple is widespread in the temperate climate zone. The trees are native to large parts of Europe. The distribution area extends from Scandinavia to the mountain ranges of the Urals. In the south, the trees can be found as far away as Greece and the Caucasus. In the northern Alps, the trees grow up to 1,000 meters above sea level. Norway maple can also be found in Valais up to 1,600 meters above sea level. In large parts of France and also in north-west Germany, the plants are completely absent. The Norway maple can often be found at the edges of forests and in mixed deciduous forests, together with ash, linden or sycamore elms.

Planting Norway maple - finding the right location

The Norway maple is not particularly picky about the location. A sunny to partially shaded location is preferred.It is particularly important that you can provide the necessary space for the trees to develop.

Tip: Norway maple tolerates shade and heat. The trees also thrive in cities and even along busy roads.

Be careful not to plant the tree too close to walls or fences. You don't have to be as concerned about deep-lying pipes and lines, however, because the roots run close to the surface. Note that your Norway maple will want to grow up to 20 meters in height. The ball maple, which is only about five meters high, is an alternative for smaller gardens.

Find the right location in keywords:

sunny
partial shade
detached
not too close to walls or fences

Planting Norway maple - choosing the ideal substrate

The trees thrive on almost any soil. Loamy and calcareous substrates are ideal. The soil can also be slightly acidic. In any case, the substrate should have the necessary permeability. The water must always be able to drain away easily, as the trees do not tolerate waterlogging. If you are able to determine the pH of your soil, a value between 5 and 6 is ideal.

➔ Tip: Normal garden soil can be upgraded by adding sand and rhododendron soil.

Find the right substrate in keywords:

permeable
slightly sour
loamy
calcareous
pH between 5 and 6

➔ Attention: The Norway maple does not thrive on peaty and boggy ground.

Planting Norway maple - step by step instructions

Select Location
Dig planting hole
Optimize substrate
Water plant
Insert drainage

Insert plant
Fill substrate
Stabilize Plant
Water the plant

Once you have found the right location, dig out the planting hole. The planting hole should be at least twice the size of the root ball. Now you have the earth in front of you and can determine whether the substrate meets the requirements mentioned. If not, now is the time to mix in sand or add compost or horn shavings to poor soil to provide the plant with a nutrient-rich, organic slow-release fertilizer.
Norway maple should be soaked in a bucket of water for about an hour before planting be asked. If no more bubbles rise from the vessel, this is ita sign that the roots have sufficiently soaked up water. To improve the permeability of the soil, you should install drainage before planting. For this purpose, shards of pottery or coarse gravel are laid out on the bottom of the planting hole. Now the plant can be inserted and the planting hole can be closed. Lightly press the soil and water the plant. If it is a high trunk, it should be stabilized with a tree stake so that the trunk does not buckle or possibly break off in strong winds.

Planting Norway maple - tips and advice

Measure	Explanation
Select Location	The Norway Maple prefers a sunny to half-shady spot. Tolerates full sun and shade. Furthermore, the plant is not sensitive to urban climate and exhaust fumes. The plant should be given enough space. The Shallow Rooters can lift flagstones out of their joints. On the other hand, there is no danger for underground pipes and lines.
Prepare substrate	Normal garden soil is usually sufficient. The permeability of the soil is particularly important. Permeability can be improved by adding sand or gravel. Prefers a slightly acidic and chalky soil. The plants do not thrive on peaty or moor-heavy subsoil.
Planting Norway Maple	The planting hole must be at least twice the size of the root ball. Before planting, the root ball should be allowed to soak up sufficient moisture. The roots should be protected when planting. High trunks are to be stabilized with a tree post.

Norway maple as a container plant

Young plants can certainly be cultivated in a bucket. The plants can be kept in the bucket for three to five years, until they have to be planted outdoors, if only because of their now quite considerable size.

Do not choose the planter too small, this will save you from having to replant every year. Make sure there are enough drainage holes on the bottom of the planter. The irrigation water must be able to drain off unhindered, especially in the bucket, so that no waterlogging occurs - the risk of waterlogging is particularly high with potted plants.

An additional protection againstWaterlogging offers drainage from potsherds or expanded clay, which is laid out directly on the bottom of the container. The earth must not dry out. Fertilize monthly during the growth phase. Use a commercially available complete fertilizer and add it directly to the irrigation water.

Can the Norway maple be transplanted?

You can easily transplant young plants. As long as the plant can be kept in the bucket, it can also be transplanted. After about five years, the plants should get their place outdoors and not leave it for the next almost 200 years.