Fast growing, with deeply lobed leaves and fabulous fall color, Autumn Blaze maple trees (Acer x freemanii) are exceptional ornamentals. They combine the best features of their parents, red maples and silver maples. If you want more Autumn Blaze tree information, read on. You’ll also find tips on Autumn Blaze maple tree care.
Autumn Blaze Tree Information
If you think fast-growing trees are bad bets in the backyard, Autumn Blaze maple trees will make you think again. These hybrids shoot up to 50 feet (15 m.) tall and 40 feet (12 m.) wide without succumbing to insect pests or diseases. Anyone growing Autumn Blaze maples will find that the trees combine the finest traits of both parents. That’s one reason for the cultivar’s popularity. Like the red maple, Autumn Blaze has a nicely balanced branching habit and explodes with red/orange color in the autumn. It also shares silver maple’s drought tolerance, lacy leaves and characteristic bark, smooth while the tree is young, but developing ridges as it matures.
How to Grow Autumn Blaze
If you are ready to start growing Autumn Blaze maples, remember that the trees thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. If you live in these zones, there’s no reason to hesitate. Plant these maples in the fall or spring in a site with full sun. Autumn Blaze maple tree care is easiest if the trees are planted in well-drained, moist, fertile soil. However, like silver maple, Autumn Blaze tolerates poor soil as well. Whichever soil you select, dig a hole three to five times as wide as the root ball but the same depth. Position the root ball of the tree so that the top is even with the soil line.
Autumn Blaze Maple Tree Care
Once you plant your maple, flood it with water to settle the roots. After that, provide water during the first growing season. When it is established, Autumn Blaze maple trees are drought tolerant. Autumn Blaze maple tree care is not difficult. The tree is virtually seedless, so you won’t have to clean up debris. One thing to consider is offering the tree winter protection when chilly winter arrives.
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