Mature Acer Campestre Field Maple Tree Options
90-120cm: Usually in a 3-5L pot, 90-120cm tall at delivery.
150-180cm : These are usually 2-3 years old and will be 150-180cm tall depending on weather and time of year purchased.
180-240cm : These are usually 2-3 years old and will be 180-240cm tall depending on weather and time of year purchased.
Girth 8-10cm: Standard,25-35L pot, *Roughly 240-300cm tall.
Girth 10-12cm: Standard,30-35L pot, *Roughly 300-360cm tall.
Girth 12-14cm: Standard,40-50L pot, *Roughly 360-420cm tall.
Girth 14-16cm: Standard,70-90L pot, *Roughly 420-480cm tall.
Girth 16-18cm: Standard,100-130L pot, *Roughly 480-540cm tall.
Girth 18-20cm: Standard,130-150L pot, *Roughly 540-600 cm tall.
Multi-stem 150-175cm: 18L pot (aprox), Bush/multistem (likely 150-200cm tall)
*Heights are given as a very rough guideline and can have considerable variation based on species and supplier (each nursery experiences different growing conditions) It may even have been pruned before being sent out so we can only guarantee girth. Trees over 5.5m may include a delivery surcharge based on location and species.
Once a mature Acer Campestre is over around 200cm/4 years old then girth is the best measure of value for money. For every girth measurement increment e.g. 6-8cm to 8-10cm (roughly 12-18months growth), the canopy will be wider, stronger, bushier and the root system larger as it has experienced 12-18 months growth. You can notice larger root systems with potted versions because the pot size increases with maturity. As a very general rule, each one cm girth measurement represents around 30cm growth but this doesn't apply to slow-growing trees.
Multistem means several stems starting very low to the ground. Comparing these with the same age Standard and Half Standard, these are typically shorter as growing several stems takes more effort than one stem and the girth measuring system does not apply.
Standard and Half Standard means lollipop shape. There is a more clear stem with a Standard.
Acer Campestre Field Maple Tree AKA Common Elder, Common Maple, Dog Oak, Master Tree and Hedge Maple.
Acer Campestre is the UK's only native Maple and is commonly found in parks and ornamental gardens due to its compact shape and tolerance of pollution (excluding places like Chernobyl and the Exon Valadez) A steady source of food so expect to see more wildlife activity in your garden. If you have Meerkaats popping out of your pots then this is likely a local zoo fencing issue and not because you planted a Field Maple. Increased ladybirds, hoverfly and birds are the most likely wildlife to visit.
Yellow-green flowers arrive at the same time as the foliage and the young growth is suitable for topiary and forming very ornamental shapes.
The bark is light brown and flakey at a young age going on to be cork-like (do not try to seal bottles of wine with it) The leaves fade to a pleasing yellow in the Autumn unless you don't like yellow then they turn into a naff colour after Summer and then onto orange and brown.
The easily identifiable winged fruits will keep the kids happy for at least 30 seconds unless you show them how to use them as fake eyebrows and moustaches then you get at least a minute.
Such an outstanding tree, the RHS gave it their AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Considered to be a medium-sized tree making it around 7 m tall and 4 m wide at 10 years. This is the point when the tree goes from adolescence to mature and growth can carry on or stop. Mature Acer Campestre can get to 15 x 8 metres. Expect an annual growth rate of around 40-60cm. If you are impatient then this is 20-30cm every 6 months on average or if you have ADHD and heavily caffeinated then this is 1 to 1.5mm a day. It has a faster growth rate when young and will tolerate shade more too. As growth slows and seed production starts the requirement for light increases.
Acer Campestre Field Maple is supplied at a height of 150cm -250cm in a 5 -20L container, which means that the tree has an already established root system and therefore this tree can be planted any time of the year. Expect a growth rate of around 30-45cm per year.
If you require many maple trees then click WHOLESALE MAPLE TREES. These are 40cm to 60cm tall.
Planting Acer Campestre Field Maple
Plant in a full sun or partial shade position in fertile and well draining soil in a location that doesn't get below minus 20 degrees centigrade. Acer Campestre Field Maple will tolerate most soil conditions to include sand, clay, loam and chalk. If you have a particularly heavy clay soil then consider mixing well rotted manure or compost into the excavated soil. A ratio of 50:50 will be ideal. Poorly draining soils will cause the tree to struggle and best results are to be found on neutral to alkaline soils.
Remove any competing weeds and other plants within 100cm of your Acer Campestre Field Maple planting spot. Dig a hole as deep as your pot but break up the bottom 5-10 cm to allow the roots to spread a little easier. The purists will tell you to make the hole square to reduce the chances of the roots spiralling round, this is your choice. Make the hole wider than the pot, this is to follow the same principle as breaking up the bottom. Try and plant so the top of the rootball soil is level with the garden soil as you need to avoid bark that was previously exposed to air being buried. If you go too deep, you can always make the top slightly "dished" by having the outer edges higher than the middle.
Water well after planting, at least 20 litres spread around the whole root system. If planting in Summer, especially long hot ones, regular watering will be important. If the soil is dry for the top 10cm or so, it will be time to water.
Keeping nearby weeds down for the first few seasons will help the young Acer Campestre Field Maple and this can be achieved with manual removal, mulching, decorative stones, agricultural matting or glyphosate (weed killer).
Pruning Acer Campestre Field Maple
Major pruning for this tree should be done between October and December and very light pruning in June. The seasoned gardener may think the dormant period is November to March and start hacking away but the sap starts to rise early Winter hence the specific pruning time frame.
The issue from pruning outside these times is that sap levels are high and bleeding can be an issue. It is always best to prune when you are expecting a few days of dry weather as this aids in the pruning cut healing and reducing the ingress of infection. You should always cut out dead, diseased or crossed over branches in either of the time frames listed.
If you are going to remove a large branch, it is best to do this in stages. This is because you do not want the branch to be cut almost all the way through and for it to then fall and tear bark off the tree. Removing smaller chunks will reduce the risk of this happening. On the final stage, make your first cut from underneath, this also reduces the risk of bark tearing away.
Somewhere Between Dull And Useful Information About Acer Campestre Field Maple
As with most Maple trees the sap can be used to make Maple Syrup.
Most Maple trees are long lived and the Acer Campestre can get to 350 years. If you look at the initial purchase price of representing around £0.20p a year then it seems you have quite the bargain!
Of all the Maples, Acer Campestre produces the hardest density of all European Maples and is often used for turning, flooring, carving and musical instruments.
Tree Jargon Explained
Half Standard: Around 80-100cm clear stem.
Standard: Around 180-200cm clear stem.
Feathered: Branches for most of the trunk/stem length.
Multi-Stem/Bush: Very little or no clear stem. Multiple branching starting low to the ground.
Rootball: Dug from the field with roots intact i.e. no pot.
Pot: Plastic container that the tree was grown in.
Maiden: 1 year tree that has not been pruned.
Pleached: Foliage a square/rectangle flat shape wired to a bamboo frame with some clear stem.
Screen: Same as pleached but much less/no clear stem.
Multiple Order Discount
Orders over £750 for 150cm+ trees might be discounted by ​​​​​​​contacting us
Ornamental Tree Roots In The Shade e.g. Behind A Fence
It is more important that that foliage (posh term for leaves) receives the sunlight than the roots. So if the canopy of your ornamental tree can sunbathe but the bottom of your tree thinks there has been a nuclear winter then that is ok. You might want to ensure you have good drainage as water and no sun is the start of algae and other such issues.
Early Autumn Leaf Fall
Heat stress, being potted, lack of water, being boxed up for a few days etc can cause early Autumn leaf fall. Once planted, normal service will resume next season.
Do I Need To Stake My Ornamental Tree?
9 out of 10 times the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.
Climate Change
Climate Change has increased aesthetic foliage issues such as Powdery Mildew, Shothole, Rust, frost damage etc These are not terminal issues and will usually last a season or less. All trees are inspected before being sent out to ensure they are fundamentally healthy and will bounce back.
