Maple is a chic tall tree loved by many primarily for its amazing carved leaves and the chic crown they form.
Having long been a place of honor among ornamental plants, maple is especially beautiful in autumn, when it decorates the surrounding landscape with leaves of yellow and burgundy shades.
Maple you are my curly
In its varieties, maple, repeatedly sung by poets and depicted by painters, is diverse, so if you want to decorate a garden plot with such an original tree, there is always the possibility of choosing the most suitable variety. Of particular pride is a specimen grown with his own hands from seeds; Moreover, this process is not particularly difficult and even a beginner can do it. How to grow maple from seeds at home? One has only to take into account that several varieties can grow from seeds: holly, Ginnala, green-bark and Tatar. The remaining varieties are propagated by grafting or cuttings.
Description of maple seeds
Maple seeds ripen in August and fall off in autumn (but not always, may hang on the tree for a long period). Therefore, they are quite easy to find in a pile of fallen leaves under the trees. In order to discover future planting material, you need to understand what maple seeds look like. Outwardly, they are a flat double lionfish with two wings. The fruit consists of 2 parts, each of which contains one seed: naked, with a large green embryo. This gorgeous tree, which is wind resistant due to its strong root system, is abundant and bears annually.
By the way, there are more than 150 varieties in the maple genus, growing in different parts of the planet and originating mostly from North America. Some of them are found even in the Northern Hemisphere and the tropics. The most valuable maple is the sugar maple, found in the Great Lakes region and Eastern Canada.
How to grow maple trees from seeds?
Maple seeds can be planted twice a year: in autumn and spring. If planting will be carried out in the spring, then the material should be subjected to stratification, the action of which is aimed at simulating the period of winter dormancy in artificial conditions. To do this, the seeds should be created conditions close to natural, and stored in a specially prepared, tightly closed container with wet sand, which is preferably placed in the refrigerator. The stratification period is approximately 100-120 days. Maple seeds, hardened in such conditions, remain valid for two years. In open ground, planting should be done in April-May. Seed germination can be accelerated by soaking them for 1-3 days in peroxide.hydrogen. With the first shoots, the future tree will begin to please after 15-20 days after planting.
Open ground maple seeds can also be planted in autumn; the most successful period is as close as possible to the time of the appearance of the snow cover. In this case, the planting material is in natural conditions and begins to germinate in the spring. When planting during this period, seed germination may be somewhat lower due to severe frosts or a little snowy winter. However, maple seeds are most often planted during this period.
Where to plant a tree?
When the maple seeds (the photo below shows one of them in an enlarged size) are ready for planting, you should decide on the place where this wonderful tree will grow.
It is necessary to choose a sunny area, in its absence, some shading is acceptable. The soil is recommended fertile and loose. Before planting, the soil should be dug up, fertilizing in parallel with a mixture of sand, peat and humus.
Fit features
Planting maple seeds is required at a depth of 3-4 cm with wings up. If transplantation of young plants is not planned in the future, then the distance between the trees should be maintained at least 2 meters. Seedlings emerge 2-3 weeks after planting. It is worth knowing that maple growth is slow: by autumn, the height of young trees usually reaches 20-40 cm, and in the first year of growth this figure reaches 80 cm. It is simple and consists in timely watering, regular weeding and getting rid of the plant from weeds. On hot days, it is recommended to shade young trees from direct sunlight.
Depending on size, young maple trees can be planted in their regular growing area after 1-3 years. Landing should be done in pre-dug holes about 70 cm deep, the width should be at least half a meter. If the groundwater is close to the soil surface, the bottom of the pit should be covered with a 15-cm layer of sand or expanded clay.
Maple seeds in folk medicine
Maple seeds, photos of which are presented in the article, are effectively used in traditional medicine.
So, with colic and kidney disease, a decoction will help, for the preparation of which you need to pour a glass of boiling water, then insist in a water bath for about 40 minutes a mixture of a teaspoon of seeds and two tablespoons of crushed leaves. Strain the composition and take 4 times a day, 50 grams each.
Cure herpes and bronchitis with an infusion of maple seeds, a teaspoon of which you need to pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 30-40 minutes. Take before meals 50 grams 4 times a day.
Planting maple from seed is a long-term and worthwhile investment in the future of your own garden. Several generations of descendants will rest under the shade of this gorgeous tree.
