Taking a cutting from a field maple

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

Could anyone tell me how to successfully take a cutting from a Field maple Acer campestre to give to someone to plant. As much information as possible would be appreciated.

GPI · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:20 am Post subject:

you may not need to take a cutting if you instead hunt around at the base of a field maple first. they will often have tons of seedlings growing away there.
Dig good and wide around the young plant, pot it up ,pop on a bow, and there you go.

For as you cuttings as you mentioned, please follow verges advice here........ Cutting Cherry/Field Maple

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

Thanks for the reply. I've had a look and there are seedlings at the base but these are literally all over the garden and I'm constantly having to weed them. Here are some pictures, the first two being the tree and foliage respectively and the latter two being the seedlings:

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1030301.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1030302.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1030305.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1030306.jpg

Are they Field Maple seedlings?

GPI · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject:

Yep that looks like them, time to set up a nursery. Razz

could possibly be ash though, do you have an an ash tree nearby?
If you can wait, the best time to pot seedlings up would be late autumn.
But you can of course pot up a few now if you are careful and not disturb them too much.

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

Thanks again.

The seedlings are shallow rooted in the bark mulch which has weed suppressant underneath - shall I take the seedling on its own and put it into a ot with some compost or take the bark surrounding it?

What size of pot should I use and should I put more than one seedling in the pot in the event of failure?

GPI · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

Take as much as you can, cut into the weed prevention fabric if you have to and take it with you.
Think of it like this, the spread of the leaves above ground is approximate to the spread of the roots.
Dig deep and wide and plonk it into a 2 litre pot (average size most shrubs come in).
Back fill if needed with compost, but do not raise the level above that which it was originally on the stem.
Keep well watered as pots dry out quickly.

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

Thanks again.

Are you sure those seedlings are Field Maple? The ones to the left of the picture are just fallen leaves. Someone else thinks they are just common ash-a major pest in any garden.

GPI · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject:

One mans major pest is another mans......... and all that.
Good possibility that a lot are ash, will know better when and if the leaves develop the typical maple leaf look.
Do you have an an ash tree nearby?
Should be some field maple seedlings there, there usually are.
If you could take a few more pics of growths around and about the maple, there are sure to be a few definates we could locate.