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When to Plant a Red Maple in Zone 6?

The ideal planting times for trees, shrubs and perennials in zone 6, where temperatures normally do not fall below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, are spring and fall. This includes Acer rubrum, or red maple, a native tree often used in landscaping because of its spectacular fall leaf colors. Spring and fall are active growing times for plants in zone 6 but do not have the scorching heat of summer. When planted during cooler temperatures, trees can put their energy into becoming established rather than handling environmental stresses.

  1. Planting

    • The proper planting technique is critical to ensuring long-term viability and health of the tree. Select a healthy plant from a reputable plant nursery. Make sure no die-back exists at the tips and tops of the branches and the bark does not have any visible damage. Trees coming from the nursery are balled and burlapped or grown in a container.

      Dig a hole at least three times the diameter of the root ball and its exact depth. The area where the root meets the trunk should be 1 inch above ground. Place a tree with a burlapped root ball in the hole. Stabilize the tree by placing one or two shovelfuls of soil around the bottom of the root ball. Cut and remove any wire and roping. If it's wrapped in natural burlap, the burlap will disintegrate over time. If it's vinyl burlap, remove it. Make sure not to damage the roots. Stabilize and straighten the tree. Back-fill the hole with rich soil or compost and firm down the soil. Water well. For a tree grown in a container, carefully remove the tree and place in the hole. Gently straighten out any roots that are growing in the shape of the pot.

    Fertilization

    • Providing a good base of compost when planting the tree will continually feed nutrients to the tree. If compost is not available, fertilize the red maple with a slow-release fertilizer while it is becoming established. Feed it with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer biweekly during the first two months and then monthly thereafter. Stop feeding the tree one month before the first frost date, and do not feed it in the winter while the tree is dormant.

    Maintenance

    • The red maple requires no pruning unless it has been damaged. It has a naturally rounded crown with some cultivars having a slightly pyramidal shape. Laying down a layer of mulch, 2 to 3 inches deep, on a yearly basis will help keep weeds down, retain moisture in the soil and keep the soil beneath the tree cooler during hot summer months.

    Landscape Varieties

    • Two red maple cultivars with excellent fall foliage are ''Red Sunset'' and ''October Glory.'' Both of these varieties can be planted in zone 6 and have bright fall foliage with red and orange colored leaves. They reach approximately 50 feet in height.

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Landscaping Trees
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