Garden Care Guide

Trautvetter's Maple Care

Acer trautvetteri

Generally used in the landscape as a specimen or accent tree. It likes full sun or partial shade and well-drained, humus-rich and moist soils. Its trunk bark stands out for its resemblance to that of the beech tree.

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: If there is no rainfall and the soil is very dry, give young seedlings 10-15 L of water every 15-20 days.
  • Pruning: If needed, shape pruning and dead-branch pruning can be done.
  • Plant protection: Application with dormant oil (mineral oil) can be made for scale insects and spider mite eggs.
  • General care: Check the mulch.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches for wounds and canker.
  • Frost risk: Protect the root collar of young saplings from frost with mulch.
February
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall and the soil is very dry, give young seedlings 10-15 L of water every 15-20 days.
  • Fertilizing: At the end of the month, apply a slow-release balanced NPK fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) to the canopy drip zone of the tree (do not overfeed).
  • Pruning: A suitable time for final shaping and dead branch pruning.
  • Plant protection: Before the buds swell, repeat the dormant oil application if necessary.
  • General care: This is a suitable time for planting.
  • Pests & diseases: Continue checking the trunk.
  • Frost risk: Continue frost protection for young saplings.
March
  • Watering: Depending on air temperature and rainfall, water young saplings with 15-20 L every 10-15 days.
  • Fertilizing: If it was not fertilized in February, apply slow-release NPK (10-10-10) (do not overapply).
  • Pruning: Avoid pruning because sap flow has begun.
  • Plant protection: If aphids are seen, use neem oil or a suitable insecticide (active ingredient: imidacloprid).
  • General care: Uncover the root collar and renew the mulch.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for signs of powdery mildew or leaf spot on the newly emerging leaves.
  • Frost risk: If there is a risk of late frost, protect young shoots.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: For leaf development, you can apply a balanced liquid fertilizer (NPK 20-20-20) at a low dose by drip or as a foliar feed (do not overapply).
  • Pruning: Remove only small branches that spoil the appearance or are diseased.
  • 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: Clear weeds.
  • 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.
  • Fertilizing: Potassium-rich fertilizers (e.g. NPK 15-5-30) increase plant resistance (do not overapply).
  • Pruning: Remove only broken, diseased branches.
  • 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.
  • Fertilizing: Reduce or stop fertilizing.
  • 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: Clear weeds.
  • 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.
  • Pruning: Do not prune.
  • 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: Mulch is very important for retaining soil moisture.
  • 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.
  • Pruning: Remove only branches broken in storms.
  • 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: Adjust the watering intervals by checking the soil moisture.
  • 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.
  • Fertilizing: To prepare for winter, apply a potassium-rich autumn fertilizer (NPK 5-10-20); do not overapply.
  • 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: If they are not diseased, leave fallen leaves as mulch.
  • 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.
  • Pruning: Wait before pruning.
  • Plant protection: After the leaves have fallen, reduce next year's disease risk by applying Bordeaux mixture.
  • General care: Collect and destroy all fallen diseased leaves.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk for scale insects.
November
  • Watering: If the fall is very dry, water young seedlings once a month (10-15 L).
  • Pruning: When the tree enters full dormancy, remove dead, diseased and rubbing branches.
  • Plant protection: If not done in October, this is a suitable time to apply Bordeaux mixture.
  • General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
  • Frost risk: Protect the trunks of young saplings against frost cracks with tree wrap or lime whitewash.
December
  • Pruning: This is one of the best times for winter pruning. Prune when the weather is not frosty.
  • General care: Check the mulch. If snow buildup is damaging the branches, gently shake it off.
  • Frost risk: Frost protection for young saplings should continue.

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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