Acer Campestre Bare Root - Field Maple
The Acer campestre, commonly known as Field Maple, is a delightful native British tree that brings year-round interest to gardens of all sizes. Supplied as a bare root plant during the dormant season (typically November to March), this hardy deciduous tree is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a reliable, low-maintenance addition to their outdoor space.
Why Choose Bare Root?
Bare root plants are lifted from the ground whilst dormant, with soil removed from their roots for easier transportation and planting. This traditional method offers excellent value for money and, when planted correctly during the dormant season, bare root trees establish remarkably well, often outperforming container-grown specimens.
Plant Characteristics
Field Maple is a charming medium-sized tree that typically reaches 8-12 metres in height, though it can be kept smaller through pruning or training. Its compact, rounded crown makes it particularly suitable for smaller gardens where space is at a premium.
The leaves are the star attraction: small, five-lobed, and a fresh bright green in spring and summer. Come autumn, they transform into a spectacular display of butter-yellow and golden-orange hues, providing one of the finest autumn shows of any British native tree.
The bark develops attractive corky ridges with age, adding textural interest during winter months when the tree is bare. In spring, small greenish-yellow flowers appear in upright clusters, followed by the distinctive winged seeds (samaras) that children love to watch helicopter to the ground.
Growing Conditions
Field Maple is wonderfully adaptable and tolerates a wide range of conditions, making it ideal for the unpredictable British climate. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and isn't particularly fussy about soil type, growing happily in clay, loam, chalk, or sandy soils, provided they're reasonably well-drained.
This tree is exceptionally hardy, tolerating exposure, urban pollution, coastal conditions, and temperatures well below freezing. It's also tolerant of drought once established, making it a resilient choice for gardens facing increasingly variable weather patterns.
Planting Your Bare Root Tree
Plant your bare root Field Maple between November and March, when the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root spread and deep enough so the previous soil mark on the stem sits level with the ground. Soak the roots in water for an hour before planting.
Position the tree in the hole, spread the roots naturally, and backfill with the excavated soil mixed with well-rotted compost. Firm gently as you go, water thoroughly, and apply a mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the trunk. Stake young trees for the first couple of years to provide support whilst they establish.
Care and Maintenance
Field Maple is remarkably low-maintenance once established. Water regularly during the first growing season, particularly during dry spells, but mature trees rarely need supplemental watering. Apply a general-purpose fertiliser in spring and refresh the mulch annually.
Pruning is minimal – simply remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late autumn or winter. Field Maple responds well to trimming and can be shaped as a small tree, large shrub, or even trained as a hedge if you're feeling adventurous.
Garden Uses
This versatile tree suits numerous garden situations. Plant it as a specimen tree in a lawn, use it to create dappled shade in a woodland garden, or incorporate it into a mixed border. It's excellent for wildlife gardens, supporting various insects, birds, and small mammals. The dense canopy also makes it suitable for screening, whilst its tolerance of clipping means it can form an attractive formal or informal hedge.
Field Maple is particularly valuable in native planting schemes and is perfect for anyone wanting to support local biodiversity whilst enjoying a beautiful, characterful tree.
Wildlife Value
As a native species, Field Maple supports a wide range of British wildlife. The flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators in spring, whilst the seeds feed birds and small mammals in autumn. The leaves host various moth caterpillars, and the dense foliage offers nesting sites for birds. In a wildlife-friendly garden, this tree truly earns its keep.
Final Thoughts
Acer campestre is a thoroughly British tree that deserves wider recognition in our gardens. Undemanding, beautiful throughout the seasons, and invaluable for wildlife, it represents outstanding value as a bare root plant. Whether you're planting your first tree or adding to an established garden, Field Maple offers reliability, charm, and a genuine connection to our native landscape.
Bare Root is usually dispatched between early November and late March. Exact dates vary year to year depending on the weather. We cannot guarantee availability for a certain date at the beginning or end of the season.
Important Bare Root Care
As soon as you receive your bare root plants place the items upright in a bucket of clean water immediately leaving them for at least 2 hours. Only take plants out as you need them for planting.
Q: When is bare root season?
A: Our bare root season usually runs from November to March but it can depend on the weather conditions, we'd always recommend buying at the end of autumn rather than waiting for spring.
Q: Does the plant size include the roots?
A: No, all bare root plant sizes quoted exclude the roots.
Q: What size plants will I receive?
A: Stock size varies through the season, our 'Plant Size' are give as a guide and you will receive plants somewhere in that range. We are unable to specify exactly how tall the plants will be within that range.
Q: How old will the plants be?
A: Most of our 'Plant Sizes' include the age of the plant, this is shown as a sum e.g. 1+2 which in this case would indicate that the plants are 3 years old. The first number is how long the plant has spent in the seedbed and the second is the number of year it has spent lined out in the field. Where the sum starts with a 0+ this indicates that the plants were grown from a rooted cutting.
Q: Can I get a discount for bulk purchases?
A: We offer a discount banding on bare root plants making them cheaper the more you buy, see the table on each page for details of the price within each band.
Q: Do I need canes?
A: Bamboo canes are perfect for giving young saplings, hedging plants, climbers and other tall shrubs the support they need when they start to establish. Unless you are planting in a completely sheltered spot with very little chance of wind then we would always recommend using a cane for support.
Q: Do I need rabbit guards?
A: Spiral Rabbit Guards are the most popular, low cost tree protection for young saplings, seedlings, transplants and hedging plants from browsing animals such as voles, mice, rabbits and hares. Spiral Rabbit Guards have the ability to grow and expand with the growing tree, providing a sheltered environment for the tree. It's hard to say for certain if you will require the extra protection a rabbit guard provides, if your are aware of a particular pest problem in your planting location then we would recommend using them. Rabbit Guards are not suitable for 'evergreens' please see 'Shrub Shelters' for a suitable evergreen protection method.
Q: What is a shrub/tree shelter?
A: Shrub/Tree Shelters are similar to rabbit guards but are designed for use on evergreens that would sweat and die in rabbit guards. We supply shrub/tree shelters as a kit which includes the shelter, 1 Stake and 2 cable ties, one kit is required per plant.
Q: Do I need shrub/tree shelters?
A: If you are aware of any specific pest problems in your planting area then we would recommend using a shrub/tree shelter to give your young trees or hedging plants that extra protection.
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£1.67 | ||
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£3.41 |