Plane tree origin

Depending on the variety, plane trees (Platanus) are deciduous or semi-evergreen trees and belong to the plane family. There are several species of plane trees, including the European plane tree (Platanus xacerifolia), the Californian plane tree (Platanus racemosa) and the Asian plane tree (Platanus orientalis).

In Greek mythology, the plane tree was associated with Apollo, the god of music, prophecy and light. In the Bible, the plane tree is also used as a symbol of eternity and immortality.

Plane trees are evergreen or semi-evergreen and usually grow very large, reaching a height of up to 40 m and a trunk diameter of up to 4 m. They have a spherical or pyramidal crown and large, spreading branches.
The plane tree blooms in spring when the foliage begins to sprout. The male flowers usually bloom a few weeks before the female flowers. The flowers of the plane tree are inconspicuous and appear in small, green catkins on the branches. They are small and have neither petals nor a particularly noticeable scent. The male flowers are found in catkins that grow at the end of the branches, while the female flowers are arranged in the axils of the leaves.
The leaves are broad and palm-shaped and have a smooth, green surface. After flowering, the seeds form, which are contained in small, round capsules with many small seeds. The seeds ripen in autumn and then fall to the ground.

Plane tree care and location

Plane trees prefer a sunny to partially shaded location with neutral to slightly acidic soil. They thrive particularly well in permeable, calcareous and loamy soil.

Pruning plane trees

Pruning of plane trees should be done carefully as plane trees can be sensitive to too much or incorrectly done pruning. Pruning is done to keep the tree healthy and attractive, but it is important to preserve the tree's natural growth and not remove too much. One way to rejuvenate the tree and stimulate growth is to remove older branches in the spring when new growth begins. To reduce or increase the height of a plane tree, long branches can be trimmed at the desired height, again in the spring to direct growth in the desired direction. A denser crown can be achieved by trimming long branches. Damaged or dead branches can be removed throughout the year to improve the health and appearance of the tree.

Watering the plane tree

The water requirements of plane trees depend on various factors, such as the age of the tree, its size, soil conditions and climate. The ever-increasing temperatures and increasing drought have a serious impact on the environment and lead to stress in trees. Depending on the location and climatic conditions, it may be necessary to water plane trees more often than before.

In general, plane trees need a lot of water and thrive in moist soil. Regular watering is particularly important during the growth period in spring and summer. When watering with a garden hose, a lot of water is lost before the roots can absorb it. Some of it seeps past the roots into the soil and water is lost through evaporation due to exposure to sunlight.
With tree bath tree bags plane trees are supplied with water drop by drop so that the roots, which do not reach so deeply, can absorb the water well. This makes irrigation more efficient and saves water. It also avoids the risk of waterlogging, which plane trees are sensitive to. Attaching and filling the water bags is simple and straightforward. The bag is placed around the tree trunk like a jacket and closed with a zip. In the next step, fill the bag with enough water so that after further alignment no wrinkles are visible in the lower area and then let it fill up.
With one watering bag, young trees can be supplied with sufficient water. For existing trees with a larger trunk diameter, two to three watering bags can be connected together with a zip to ensure they are sufficiently watered.

Fertilizing plane trees

Plane trees rarely need Fertilizer and usually the addition of some compost or organic fertilizer in spring is sufficient.

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