Garden Care Guide

Sycamore Maple Care

Acer pseudoplatanus

A large, fast-growing tree that is very tolerant of wind, air pollution and salt spray. It is suitable for large areas, parks and especially coastal regions; however, it self-seeds heavily and is susceptible to aphids that drop sticky honeydew.

Hardy · -25 °C / -13 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • Pruning: This is the ideal time for major branch removal and structural pruning. For safety and tree health, remove dead or weak branches; if you are unsure, seek professional help.
  • Plant protection: If heavy pest infestations were seen last season, a dormant oil (Bordeaux mixture) may be applied.
  • General care: Check drainage.
February
  • Pruning: Finish pruning before the buds swell.
  • General care: If the soil is not frozen, it is a suitable time for planting saplings.
March
  • Watering: For newly planted seedlings, 20-25 L/tree every 15 days.
  • General care: The buds begin to burst.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Keep the area under the tree clean.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Do not prune during the growing season.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: Do shaping and hedge pruning.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Regular watering of young trees is important.
  • Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water. Look for white, powdery patches on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: It may drop its leaves under heat stress.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: It is the tree's recovery period after the summer heat.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Do the last formative pruning of the season; do not let it put out new shoots before frost.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: The tree is preparing for autumn color. Remove unwanted seedlings that have sprouted from self-sown seeds.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • General care: Autumn colors, which are usually yellow-brown, are not very showy. It is a suitable month for planting saplings.
  • Pests & diseases: Collecting leaves with tar spot can reduce infection next year.
November
  • Pruning: You can begin winter pruning after the leaves have completely fallen.
  • General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
December
  • Pruning: This is an ideal month for pruning. For safety, consider hiring a professional pruning service, especially for large trees.
  • General care: The tree is dormant.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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