Who wouldn't be familiar with the maple leaf that Canada has on its flag? Maples are tall deciduous trees, but there are also several species of evergreen maples. Some species are shorter in stature and resemble more of a shrub. Others are taller stately trees with beautiful colourful leaves. Apart from the peculiar shape of the leaves, their colouring in autumn is always attractive. They have been bred into several shades and shapes. Some only become colourful in autumn, others are vibrant all year round. Maples will bring beauty and colour to your garden and are therefore popular as ornamental trees. They add charm and the right atmosphere to your garden.
They are not very demanding to grow, thriving in partial shade or in a place where there is not much midday sun. Among the best known maple species are the Japanese maples, which originate from far away Asia. These are even grown as bonsai. They tend to grow more slowly or moderately fast, so you don't have to worry about them becoming a tall tree in a short time, as is the case with our European maples. Even when planting European maples, it is important to think that they will almost certainly get bigger over time, so there is no point in placing them where space is tight. The soil where the maple is planted should be slightly acidic, loose, nutritious and moist. Maples always stand out rather well on their own. If their foliage is light, they will show well against a darker hedge background, for example. They do well near water bodies, which add to their moisture.
Maple has a medium and hard wood similar to beech. Its wood is one of the lightest woods in existence. The leaf rings tend to be clearly visible. Under certain aspects, maple wood can develop an eyelet structure with a twisted grain progression. This type of wood is very rare and is also used for the backboards of guitars or violins. The use of maple wood is of course also appreciated in the furniture industry. It is used to make beds, chairs, wardrobes, various types of veneers and even floors. Due to its flexibility, maple wood is also popular with artistic carvers and wooden toy manufacturers. The original inhabitants of the Americas were already brewing maple sap from maple trees before Europeans arrived in their country. In maple syrup they had a source of energy and nutrition. They processed the sap into maple sugar, which was stored in jars made of birch bark. Maple syrup is still popular today. Under certain conditions, it can even be prepared at home.
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