Esdoorn

Acer platanoides

Engels: Norway Maple

treeSapindaceae🇳🇱 Inheems

Esdoorn (Acer platanoides) is a native to the Netherlands tree from the Sapindaceae family that grows up to 25 meters tall. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires low maintenance. Blooms in spring with yellow flowers and attracts bees and birds.

Hoogte

1500–2500 cm

Breedte

1000–1500 cm

Zonligging

full sun, partial shade

Waterbehoefte

moderate

Grondsoort

clay soil, loam, chalky soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

spring

Bloemkleuren

yellow

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

Trekt vogels aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
🌱Planten
✂️Snoeien
💧Bemesten

Care tips

Planting

Norway maple is a large, vigorous tree that needs plenty of space and careful siting from the outset. Choose a position in full sun or partial shade where the mature canopy—up to 15 metres wide—won't interfere with buildings, drains, or neighbouring boundaries. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including heavy clay, loam, and chalky ground, but avoid waterlogged sites. Good drainage is essential, though the tree copes well with urban pollution and compacted soil once established. Plant bare-root or container-grown specimens in October, November, or March, when the tree is dormant or just breaking dormancy. Dig a planting hole at least twice the width of the root ball but no deeper; the root flare should sit level with the surrounding soil surface. Break up compacted soil at the base and sides of the hole to encourage roots to spread. If your soil is very heavy clay, fork in some coarse grit or composted bark to improve structure, but don't add fertiliser at planting time. Position the tree upright, backfill with the excavated soil, and firm gently with your heel to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly—at least two full watering cans—to settle the roots. For trees over 1.5 metres tall, drive in a single vertical stake at a 45-degree angle to avoid the root ball, and secure the trunk with a tree tie fitted with a spacer to prevent chafing. Apply a 7–10 cm layer of well-rotted compost or bark mulch in a wide circle around the base, keeping it clear of the trunk itself to discourage rot and rodent damage.

Pruning

Norway maple requires very little routine pruning once established, and heavy cutting can spoil its naturally rounded crown. The key pruning window is July and August, during mid to late summer when the tree is in full leaf. Pruning at this time minimises sap bleeding, which can be copious and weaken the tree if you cut in late winter or early spring. Never prune between January and May. Use clean, sharp tools: secateurs for twigs up to pencil thickness, loppers for branches up to about 3 cm, and a pruning saw for anything larger. Focus on removing dead, damaged, or diseased wood first, cutting back to healthy tissue just above a bud or lateral branch. Take out any crossing or rubbing branches that will eventually cause wounds, and remove suckers arising from the base or low on the trunk as soon as you spot them. If the crown becomes congested, thin out a few interior branches to improve air circulation and light penetration, but resist the temptation to over-prune. Norway maple naturally develops a dense, symmetrical canopy, and removing too much foliage stresses the tree and encourages a flush of vigorous, poorly attached water shoots. Young trees may need formative pruning in the first few years to establish a clear trunk and balanced framework; remove lower side branches gradually over two or three seasons rather than all at once. Always cut just outside the branch collar—the slight swelling where branch meets trunk—to promote rapid healing. For large limbs or work above head height, hire a qualified tree surgeon.

Maintenance

Norway maple is a low-maintenance tree once its roots are established, typically after two or three growing seasons. Water newly planted trees regularly through their first spring and summer, giving a thorough soak once or twice a week during dry spells. Established trees are drought-tolerant and rarely need watering except in prolonged hot, dry periods, when a deep watering every fortnight helps prevent premature leaf drop. Feed young trees in March or April with a general-purpose granular fertiliser such as Growmore or blood, fish, and bone, scattered in a wide circle around the drip line and lightly forked into the soil surface. Mature trees growing in reasonable soil don't need regular feeding; a 5 cm top-up of garden compost or leaf mould as mulch every other spring provides sufficient nutrients. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds after mid-summer, as soft late growth is vulnerable to frost. Refresh the mulch layer each autumn or early spring to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and gradually improve soil structure as it breaks down. Keep the mulch at least 10 cm clear of the trunk. Norway maple is generally pest- and disease-free in temperate Europe, though you may occasionally see aphids on young foliage in May, causing sticky honeydew and sooty mould. Hose them off or tolerate them—natural predators usually restore balance within weeks. Tar spot (black blotches on leaves) can appear in damp summers but causes no lasting harm; rake up and compost affected autumn leaves to reduce spore carry-over. Check tree ties annually and loosen them as the trunk expands to prevent girdling.