Where is the Shade?

We have gotten a brief reprieve from the summer heat, but it will be back by the weekend. And we'll all be looking for the shade in the yard to help keep us cool.

This week's Plant of the Week, Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’, celebrates

shade with a natural beauty that will enhance any landscape.

The crimson king maple is in the Norway maple tree family, and it has become a favored tree because of its unusual beauty and ease of growing. This particular maple tree stands out among maples because of the rich maroon- or purple-colored leaves it dons throughout the summer. It is not unusual to see crimson kings lining streets and other public places, especially in northern states, where most maples turn green in the summertime.

Maple trees have always been popular because they grow hardily in zones 4 through 7 and they make a beautiful enhancement to any yard. The crimson king maple stands out because it looks so different from it cousins. There are a few other maple trees that have some gorgeous color in the spring, but all except the crimson king turn to green as summer approaches.

Crimson king maple trees will grow to magnificent height of 50 feet or taller. This makes them wonderful accent trees for yards with many other trees, but they also work well as a stand alone because of their unique beauty. Their size and more than adequate leaf growth makes the crimson king a superb shade tree as well. As this tree matures, it develops a wonderfully shaped crown and will usually turn into a favorite shady spot over the years. any yard. The crimson king maple stands out because it looks so different from it cousins. There are a few other maple trees that have some gorgeous color in the spring, but all except the crimson king turn to green as summer approaches.

Keep in mind as you choose a location for this type of maple tree that the crimson king maintains a fairly shallow root system. That means that it can be difficult to mow the lawn under these trees because the roots will be very close to the surface, possibly even bulging out. It also means that they should not be planted too close to the house or any other structure. This shallow root growth is not a good idea close to the sidewalk, and they should be planted at 5 feet away from the edge of the walkway.

Since they are such good shade trees, the crimson king does wonderfully as an accent in a woody backyard garden area or a little distance away from a patio for an amazing shady spot to relax those summer days away. Again, planting these trees approximately 5 feet away from the edge of the patio is a good idea.

One of the best things about the crimson king is that is can adapt to many different soil types. This tree will grow readily in dry conditions as well as soils that are very acidic or more alkaline. Crimson kings even do well in clay or sand. This flexibility is what makes them very attractive as plantings along city streets. In fact, many feel that this type of tree is overused on tree-lined streets, especially in the northern part of the country.

The most care for this type of maple tree is to tending the branches to make sure the leaf growth is not too heavy. If the leaves grow too thickly on a branch, it may begin to droop As the tree gets larger, it is also recommended to trim the lowest branches so that there will be plenty of room to relax under the delightful shade this tree will provide.

Another amazing treat that comes with the crimson king are its springtime blossoms. There are few things as welcoming as flowers in the spring, and this maple tree shows off a lovely display of blooms each March or April. The only drawback to this pretty springtime show is the seeds that drop from the tree in the fall. They can become a problem if not dealt with, but cleaning them up is not a difficult fix and can be done right along with the end-of-summer yard cleaning.