How to grow and care for flamingo ash-leaved maple in the garden
Everyone who is lucky enough to see the ash-leaved maple Flamingo at least once will certainly fall in love with it. When the foliage blooms in early spring, it looks like the tree is covered with pink flowers. In fact, it is the two-tone plates that create such an original effect. How to grow a unique tree in your summer cottage? What are the rules for caring for a plant? Find out what experienced gardeners advise. But first, let's take a closer look at an exotic tree.
Ash-leaved maple Flamingo under the gaze of lovers of greenery
The ash-leaved maple got its exotic name "Flamingo" because of the original color of young foliage. In early spring, it is pinkish in color. In the hot season, the foliage burns out and takes on a greenish-white tint. In the fall, after the first frost, the foliage puts on a yellow and red outfit.
The maximum height of an adult tree reaches about 5 m. It grows rather quickly. Up to about half a meter a year. Under the supervision of experienced gardeners, the plant lives for about 100 years. Despite this, its branches often break. They cannot withstand strong winds or wet snow. The main reason is the fragility of the wood. However, in early spring, it releases a liquid that is used in traditional medicine.
Only young foliage has original pink color. In order for it to appear every year, it is advisable to pinch the tops of the shoots in the summer.
The ash-leaved flamingo maple begins flowering even before the appearance of new foliage. Modest male and female yellow buds grow on the branches. Their pleasant aroma and sweet nectar attracts a lot of insects and bees. Therefore, the plant is considered honey plant.
After 2 months, fruits are formed on the tree. They consist of 2 thin transparent wings. Between them there is a compacted base, inside which there is one seed. Lionfish remain on the branches until next spring. Then they break off and fall into the soil. Some of them germinate successfully, due to which young seedlings appear.
Growing secrets and care
The flamingo ash-leaved maple is a photophilous crop. Lack of sunlight leads to a loss of decorativeness. Leaf plates quickly lose their original shade. Therefore, the planting site should be spacious and well lit.
The tree is not demanding on special types of soil. It is successfully developing in the summer cottages of our compatriots.
As a rule, the seedlings are grown in specialized nurseries and then sold. For planting, it is best to purchase a tree in your own pot, which is 1 or 2 years old. The maximum plant height is about 100 cm. It is desirable to plant it within 7 days after purchase.
To do this, follow simple rules:
- dig a funnel 50 cm deep and wide;
- drainage is placed on the bottom (coarse sand or fine gravel);
- pour a little clean water;
- fertilizer is applied, consisting of sand, humus and turf;
- the seedling is placed in the center of the funnel;
- carefully covered with earth and tamped;
- root region mulch a layer of peat;
- water the plant with water.
Growing and caring for a Flamingo maple does not require any special skills. It is enough to follow simple rules, and an exotic tree will successfully fit into the landscape of a country house.
Intelligent watering
If the plant is grown in an area where there is little natural precipitation, it is watered once every 7 days. One seedling will require approximately 20 liters of water. In the rainy season, the Flamingo ash maple does not need additional moisture. With moderate rainfall, the plant is watered once every 30 days.
After each moistening, it is advisable to weed the near-stem area, mulch the soil.
Seasonal feeding and protective therapy
To grow the Flamingo maple in the Moscow region, you need to regularly fertilize the soil of the root area of the seedling.
The next year after planting, the following is introduced into the soil:
- urea;
- potassium salts;
- superphosphate.
Thanks to top dressing, maple gains strength and retains its decorative effect. Sometimes the plant is affected by whiteflies of a weevil or a mealybug. Special chemicals are used for destruction.
To protect the seedling from powdery mildew, it is sprayed with copper sulfate diluted in water.
Crown formation
In early spring, the tree needs to be pruned, as many damaged branches appear on it. To create a spectacular crown, remove 1/3 of the total length of old shoots. Also, the branches that grow inside the tree are completely cut off. Thanks to this, the maple will be able to withstand strong winds, both in summer and winter.
Regular pruning gives the foliage a particularly rich color.
As you can see, it is not difficult to grow an ash-leaved maple Flamingo in a summer cottage. You just need to try to follow the rules of planting, watering, feeding, protection from pests and pruning. The tree looks wonderful in the center of the flower bed, where peonies, ferns, chrysanthemums grow. It will decorate the entrance to the territory of a country house, and will serve as an original hedge all year round.