Maple is a popular tree found in the temperate zones of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Widely distributed in North America near the banks of streams and beyond. In general, there are about 150 species in the maple genus, among which black maple occupies a special place. This is a deciduous tree of unusual beauty, growing up to 40 meters in height.
Where meets
Black maple is found in nature on different types of soil. It can be found in the lowlands, as well as at an altitude of about a kilometer above sea level. In the south of the Appalachians, the tree grows at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. Usually black maple grows on the banks of water bodies.
Description of the plant
The tree reaches a height of forty meters, and this species belongs to the slow growing. The most intensive growth is observed in the first years of life, after which it slows down.
Black maple is a long-lived plant - it lives for more than two centuries.
This type of maple isnon-flowering plant, with a growing season from early May to early October. It has a shallow root system.
Twin Brothers
Maple is a plant that is used for landscaping streets, in landscape design. Breeders are working on breeding new varieties. One of these is the Faassens Black Norway Maple. Due to its appearance, it can rightfully be called the brother of black maple, only the cultivar is smaller and more decorative. This species is often grown in garden plots, parks, squares.
Faassense Black is characterized by a dense, wide-conical crown with large dark red-brown leaves. The tree reaches a height of no more than 15 meters. Moreover, during growth, its crown develops evenly, reaching a diameter of 8 meters.
The leaves of the variety are large, rich in color, matte, on long petioles. When blooming in spring, they have a bright red hue. As the foliage unfolds, the tree begins to bloom with greenish-yellow flowers. Lionfish are then formed up to five centimeters long.
Growing conditions
The black maple tree and the similar cultivar Norway maple prefer to grow in light areas, but can easily tolerate partial shade, although in this case they lose their attractiveness slightly. Plants thrive best in moist, fresh soils where there is no stagnant water. Knowing where the black maple grows, you can easily find the right place. Ideal forvarieties with colored leaves pick up places with partial shade.
To get a black maple like in the photo, cuttings are taken for propagation or grafted. The last method is recommended only for an experienced gardener who has the skills to graft trees.
Planting and care
Young trees develop well on fertile soils. However, if groundwater flows shallowly, then crushed stone drainage is laid at the bottom of the landing pit.
When landing, be sure to maintain a distance of at least two meters. When planting a maple hedge, maintain a distance of 2 meters.
Young plantings provide good watering. However, not only the quality of the soil and care depends on what the plant will be like. It also depends on the quality of the planting material. To grow a decorative black maple like in the photo, you need to put a lot of effort into finding a good seedling. The black variety is not cheap, so the low price of such plants should be alarming.
When buying a maple seedling, it is important to consider the time of planting. It is best to plant maple in late September or early October. During planting, the leaves should be slightly wilted on it, there should be no damage or defects on the roots.
Maple is planted in a planting hole so that the root collar is at the same level with the soil surface. After planting, the plant is watered immediately.
The tree responds gratefully to good care. It is recommended to feed it at least three times per season with complex mineral fertilizers. Young trees are recommended to be shadedin the first year of life in a new place from the scorching sun. Also, young trees need abundant watering: during a drought, maple is recommended to be watered 1-2 times a week (depending on the type of soil). There should be enough water so that it can soak the soil to a depth of 1 meter or more.
Under the seedling, the ground must be loosened, weeds removed. Black views should not be trimmed, unless, of course, it is planned to create a unique landscape composition. But sanitary pruning is carried out necessarily once a year, removing all frozen, dry branches during the procedure.
Benefits of maple
Maple has many useful properties. Juice, infusions and other remedies help fight a variety of ailments, including:
- pathologies of the genitourinary system - used as a diuretic;
- diseases of the liver and gallbladder - maple juice has a choleretic effect;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Also, maple has a positive effect on the pancreas, helps fight infections, oncology, cleanses the blood of toxins.
Juice
One of the he althiest products derived from maple is its sap. It is first mentioned in the sixteenth century.
Useful properties of black maple are the benefits of juice. It contains many vitamins, micro and macro elements. 90% juice is water. The juice contains many antioxidant compounds that are useful in the fight againstcancer, pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Maple juice contains little sugar, fructose, glucose, which is why it is recommended for people with diabetes, obesity.
Since ancient times, people have been using not only maple sap, but also its leaves. They are used to prepare decoctions used to treat diseases of the nasopharynx, skin pathologies. The effectiveness of the product is due to the antimicrobial effect of the resulting product.
Clen is considered a good antidepressant. Reception of juice helps to reduce aggression, overcome stress, restore energy. In some areas of Germany, it is used as a means to increase potency.
There are no contraindications for taking juice.
Folk remedies
An infusion is prepared from fresh maple leaves. For it, you will need to grind the leaves, then pour a spoonful of raw materials with a glass of boiling water and let it brew for thirty minutes. The resulting tincture is taken three times a day, dividing the resulting volume into equal parts.
You can make alcohol maple tincture. To prepare it, a container is taken in which maple leaves are placed. Then they are filled to the brim with vodka. The composition is insisted for two weeks, after which it is filtered. Take twenty drops before meals.
To treat the pathology of the oral cavity, a spoonful of raw materials is taken and 1.5 cups of boiling water is poured. The resulting mixture is boiled over low heat for half an hour. The finished product is allowed to cool to room temperature. It is used to rinse the mouth three times a day.
