The spectacular orange and crimson red color of the ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple tree makes it a desirable ornamental tree. The beautiful upward branching habit, rounded canopy, and deeply lobed maple leaves make the ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple a deciduous tree that is worth planting.
The scarlet red leaves of the ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple tree stay bright for many weeks before falling in a autumn setting, making it impossible to mistake.
The hybrid maple tree, sometimes known as Freeman’s maple, is noted for its autumn glory and is one of the most stunning deciduous trees. You’ll find useful advice on planting and caring for this tree in your garden landscape, as well as pictures and descriptions of the maple tree, in this article.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Facts
Under ideal circumstances, ‘Autumn Blaze Freeman maple trees are adaptable to a variety of soil types and thrive in full sun to partial shade. When it gets some shade, its finest leaf color emerges.
In USDA zones 3 through 8, growing an autumn blaze is feasible. In freezing climates, the hardy tree can grow, and in warm summers, it can endure. The roots of the maple tend to rise to the surface with age, making it drought-tolerant and requiring minimal care even during dry periods. Maple roots, which may damage lawns, sidewalks, and structures, are a result of this. It also means that the tree is vulnerable to high winds.
The seedless ‘Marmo,’ ‘Scarlet Sentinel,’ ‘Firefall,’ and ‘Indian Summer’ are other cultivars of the hybrid Acer x freemanii that produce beautiful autumn colors.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Leaves
The traditional maple leaf shape can be seen on the leaves of the tree known as the ‘Autumn Blaze. The central lobe is wider at the tip of the deeply cut five lobes of the maple leaves. In the spring and summer, the leaves are dark green with a lustrous sheen.
The leaves of the maple tree turn bright orange-red in the autumn. The jagged lobes of the maple leaves, which nearly reach to the leaf’s midrib, are what distinguish them. In early spring, the tree’s simple leaves emerge in an opposing sequence and grow in opposition.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Fall Color
In the autumn, the color of these maple leaves changes to brilliant red. During the fall, the maple leaves turn glossy green, then orangey-red to brilliant red as they mature. These maple trees stand out in an autumn setting due to their vibrant crimson color. When grown in partial shade, the red colors are at their brightest.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Bark
The light silvery-gray bark of the autumn blaze maple tree is smooth, and it is pale in color. As the maple tree ages, its bark becomes furrowed and loses its gray hue. When the branches are bare in winter, the appealing gray bark and tree form give it visual appeal.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Flowers
The flowers of the flowering maple tree ‘Autumn Blaze’ are seldom seen. It seldom blooms because it’s a hybrid maple. Nevertheless, yellowish-green or crimson clusters of drooping flowers may develop on the tree if it blooms. After blooming, an autumn blaze maple may create samaras, or winged seeds, which is considered a fruit. Yet, an ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple that produces flowers and seeds is rare to come across.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple (Acer x freemanii ‘‘Autumn Blaze’’) Identification
The uniquely lobed leaves that form a star shape distinguish Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze.’ Other maple leaves have five large lobes with serrated edges, as do the leaves. The silver-gray bark of the maple, as well as the foliage that turns scarlet in the autumn, have an upwardly spreading branching habit.
When to Plant ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree
For optimum results, plant the ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple in late autumn or spring. The decorative trees, on the other hand, have a better chance of surviving fall planting since the soil is still warm. By ensuring that the maple tree is planted in the ground before frost, the root system has enough time to develop.
Where to Plant ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree
Planting an autumn blaze maple tree in full sun is the optimum location. The area should have some afternoon shade in warm locales. The ‘Autumn Blaze’ maples prefer well-drained, rich soil and thrive in sandy, loamy, or clay soil. They prefer to be planted in the spring or autumn.
When deciding where to plant the maple tree, spacing is also a factor. Leave 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 meters) between the tree and buildings or other trees if you are planting the ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple as a specimen tree. To safeguard the maple’s shallow root system, adequate spacing is required.
The roots of ‘Autumn Blaze’ maples must have enough distance from other trees to prosper. The maple’s spreading, rounded canopy may shade shrubs and plants in its understory, so it’s a good idea to keep that in mind. As a result, consider the mature tree’s size. In full shade beneath the tree’s canopy, you may want to cultivate plants for ground cover.
How to Plant ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and 4″ (10 cm) deeper than the root ball to plant a maple tree called “Autumn Blaze.” Make sure that the nursery pot’s tree is growing at the same rate. Next, press down on the hole as you fill it with native soil. thoroughly saturate the root area after planting the maple tree.
This will help the roots get off to a nice start by eliminating remaining air pockets. Lastly, surround the root zone with a thick layer of mulch, ensuring that there is at least 2 inches (5 cm) around the trunk.
After planting a maple tree, keep the soil moist by watering it every two weeks. You must make sure that the soil is always wet throughout the first growing season. To help the roots grow optimally, you’ll need to water it on a regular basis. The roots have more space to spread out and build a strong root network when you dig a wider hole.
The root system of the tree will develop well throughout the winter, allowing for rapid development the following spring, when it is planted in the autumn.
How to Grow ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree From Cuttings
In the summer or early fall, cut 4″ to 6″ (10 – 15 cm) lengths of stem tips from the tree to grow an “Autumn Blaze” maple from cuttings. Next, using a sharp knife, strip 1″ (2.5 cm) of bark from the trimmed end of the stem cuttings’s lower leaves. Place the tip in a potting medium of moist peat moss and perlite after sharpening, then dip it in rooting hormone. When the cuts are roughly 2″ (5 cm) deep, they’ll grow best. Cover the pot with a plastic bag to provide your plant with additional heat and moisture.
Lastly, keep it in a warm area with plenty of light. The roots should grow between four and eight weeks. Remove the plastic cover after you’ve planted the roots. It’s a nice idea to move the chopping to a bigger container of fertile potting soil. Next, expose the plant to sunlight during the day and return it inside at night to begin acclimatizing it. After ten days, transfer the rooted cutting to the ground in late fall, when it is ready.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Care Guide
The silver maple and red maple combine to create ‘Autumn Blaze,’ which has the best of both worlds. As a result, maple is quite robust and requiring little care. It only needs moist soil and direct sunlight to thrive and be pest-resistant once it has been planted in the landscape. Read on to learn how to keep a maple tree healthy and trim it to promote fast development.
How to Water ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree
Only during dry periods can water an established maple tree called ‘Autumn Blaze.’ Drought tolerance is a characteristic of most maple trees, and their roots should be adequately hydrated with normal rain. Since “wet feet” may cause root rot and other growth complications, you should avoid watering the tree excessively.
When the tree is young, watering an “Autumn Blaze” maple is critical. For many weeks, you’ll need to water the tree three times a week, making sure that the water seeps evenly throughout the root zone. Maple trees need approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water every week. When leaves on your garden tree turn brown in the summer or before they turn bright red, you’ll want to provide additional water for it.
‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Fertilization
Annual spring fertilization helps an ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple tree. For leafy trees, use a high-nitrogen tree feeder. A natural or organic tree fertilizer with a NPK rating of 12-4-8 or 16-4-8, for example, may help preserve the tree’s health while encouraging maximum foliage. Most maple trees, on the other hand, do well without fertilizer. Take a soil sample to check for nutrient deficiencies before applying fertilizer. Instead, you’ll avoid overfertilizing the tree and scorching its roots.
A freshly planted maple tree does not need feeding during the first year of its growth. When you plant the nursery tree, avoid fertilizing the soil.
Pruning ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree
To keep their form and encourage good development, ‘Autumn Blaze’ trees need regular trimming. Every three to five years, trimming helps keep the tree healthy and sound. To encourage development and promote air circulation, you can also trim dead and diseased branches twice a year. For the first few years, a young ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple tree is usuallypruned without any need. Without regular care, the tree usually develops into a good shape. You may prune the maple tree yearly after two or three years.
Late winter or early spring is the best time to trim your autumn blaze maples. Check for signs of rot or illness on branches every year during regular pruning. Also, limbs that are crossing each other or rubbing against them should be removed. Any suckers growing from the tree’s base must also be removed.
Every few years, contact a professional arborist for mature trees with load-bearing limbs. They can determine which of the tree’s main branches must be cut back in order to improve it.
Pests Affecting ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Growth
Maple trees that are known as ‘Autumn Blaze’ are typically strong, pest-resistant trees. However, common garden pests like woolly aphids, scale insects, and tree borers may harm the tree’s health, according to you.
- Woolly alder aphid (Paraprociphilus tessellatus) It’s a tiny black bug with a fuzzy white coating. White, fuzzy pests on twigs, leaves, and bark are the signs of these bugs. Early wilt and drop of infested leaves. Honeydew on the tree and an increase in ant activity surrounding it are two things you may notice. Woolly aphids, on the other hand, seldom cause lasting damage to a ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple.
- Scale insects The ‘Autumn Blaze’ cultivar of maple is one that can cause harm to trees. Because they resemble irregular brownish-black growths on maple limbs, scale bugs are difficult to identify. Others have a cottony growth surrounding them, while others look like a woody bump. Scale can induce premature leaf drop and stunted development.
- Ambrosia beetles (Xylosandrus crassiusculus) Little wood-boring beetles burrow into the trunks and limbs of maple trees. The pests usually attack younger trees with thinner bark. Toothpick strands protruding from the tree are the most common symptom of these beetles. Professional assistance is usually required to get rid of these tree-destroying beetles.
Diseases Affecting ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple Tree Growth
If you provide them with enough sunlight, good watering, and avoid overfertilizing them, ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple trees are highly resistant to disease. Maple leaves can, however, be afflicted by foliar illnesses such as leaf scorch, anthracnose, and leaf spot.
- Leaf scorch Dry weather, high temperatures, and strong winds are all common occurrences. If the water isn’t plentiful, the maple leaves may turn yellow. Contaminated soil, on the other hand, may make leaves appear scorched. During dry weather, water the maple tree with 1″ (2.5 cm) of water every week to prevent or treat leaf scorch.
- Anthracnose (Aureobasidium apocryptum) Leaves turn brown and branches become bent and twisted, caused by a fungal foliar illness that affects plants. During damp, cool weather, this maple leaf disease is more common. removal and destroying infected leaves and limbs is the best way to prevent anthracnose on maples without chemicals.
- Leaf spot Several fungal and bacterial illnesses may also produce this symptom. Raking up fallen leaves in the fall and removing diseased foliage and branches from the tree is the best way to prevent these illnesses from spreading.