What do I do to help my young maple tree keep its leaves longer?

Question

I have a 6 foot tall young maple tree, and eventhough most other maples in the area are turning colors, mine is still vivid green and lush. I want it to stay green longer...what do I do to help it? Water it or dont? Fertilize it or dont?

Also, different maples have different colors either yellow, orange and red. Is there any way I can alter the color of mine? Like by adding certain elements to the soil?

should I fertilize during the fall?

Answer 1

No you can't change the color, but you might see a change in the colors intensity from year to year. Some years you'll be lucky with keeping the leaves green and others not, it's all down to the sugars in the tree being affected by the frost. If you have an early frost you'll get early color, if you get strong winds, you'll lose the display alltogether.

Answer 2

You actually don't want to do anything. Maples will drop their leaves when they're ready, some just stay greener longer than others. You really don't want to fertilize in the fall because that does promote new tender growth that will get hurt when it gets cold.

The color is determined by the species, and in part by the amount of water. Some maples turn yellow, some orange, and some red. The intensity of the color can change if there have been dry or wet periods during the summer, but you can't change the actual color.

Answer 3

Your maple will also start turning color. It probably gets a little different lighting and watering schedule so that the leaves will start turning a little later. You can't stop mother nature. The color of the leaves was determined by the species and cannot be changed with anything....unlike hydrangeas. Good luck and enjoy your maple....they are beautiful trees.

Answer 4

Hours of daylight determine when deciduous trees turn and drop their leaves. Don't think you can do anything to alter or change your maple's foliage.