Acer buergerianum 2-2

Trident maple, or Burger maple in bonsai

The bark is very decorative and peels off in patches, revealing light orange areas. Burger maple is extremely vigorous, especially when grown in the ground, and you can get towering trunks with beautiful nebari quickly this way.

Did you know? It owes its name to the shape of its three-lobed leaves. It is a very robust tree that can grow up to 10 meters tall when grown in the ground.

If you're looking for a bonsai maple that's easy to grow and gives an interesting result quickly, then Burger Maple is for you!

Good to know : the burger maple loses its leaves in winter.

Growing tips.

Location : Outdoors all year round, the Burger maple appreciates a semi-shaded location, especially during periods of high heat. In spring and autumn, it will need sun during the day to promote its branching and develop beautiful colours.

Only in summer, we advise you to give it an eastern exposure, with sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon, it is a tree that does not appreciate the scorching summer sun.

In winter, maple needs and will tolerate the cold, especially keep it outside !  As a precaution, you can protect the roots (the pot) when temperatures are below zero, especially during heavy frosts, by using a winter fleece, glass wool, etc.

Watering : For good health, the Maple Burger needs a substrate that is always moist. However, water your tree regularly while allowing the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid excess water. Indeed, underwatering or overwatering is not necessarily advantageous for the good health of your bonsai.

So take the time to manage it well.

Important : Do not hesitate to water the entire root ball up to the roots, materially, the water will drain through the holes present under the pot or bathe the tree in water (drenching) for a few minutes, to be sure to water well up to the roots.

We do not recommend putting a cup or container underneath your pot as the water will stagnate and can cause root rot. (Too much water = asphyxiation).

In spring/summer, watering should be done regularly. In hot weather, it's every day ! On the other hand, in winter, water according to the soil monitoring you do. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly since the substrate will remain moist.

Substrate and repotting : Maple trees are understory species that thrive in cool soils. So avoid planting it in a substrate that drains too much or pottery that is too fine. Repot in the spring, every two years, as soon as the buds start to swell.

In the nursery, we use potting soil, its composition : black peat, blond peat, eco-aged, topsoil, horse manure, pozzolana

You can adapt your substrate very well by mixing it with more draining substrate such as : akadama, pumice ..

Pruning : During the winter, when the leaves have fallen, you can do a structural pruning and remove unnecessary branches. During the growing season, shorten the twigs to one pair of leaves with a good pair of scissors.

Fertilization : In the nursery, we use blue tomato/flower fertilizer NPK 12 12 17. It is a perfect fertilizer as a nutrient supplement. Put a handful on the substrate (small or large depending on the size of the pot) from May to October, every 2 months for good growth of your tree.

Be careful, don't give fertilizer too early because you will encourage long shoots with large internodes. Ideally, wait until the first shoot is complete, prune and then start giving fertilizer.

» Burger Maple Bonsai: The Complete Guide