London plane

The London plane is a very hardy tree that is relatively drought tolerant. It requires an average amount of watering, but its moisture requirements can vary depending on the age of the tree. Young trees, usually up to 3 years old, should be watered regularly about once a week in periods of prolonged dry weather. Established trees, over 3 years, need less frequent watering, but will benefit from an occasional deep watering when the soil becomes dry. The best time to water a London plane tree is the early morning or evening. Avoid watering in the middle of the day as this often leads to leaf scorch.

London plane trees, also known as Platanus x acerifolia (syn. P. x hispanica), thrive under sunny conditions throughout the day and need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun exposure to grow optimally and produce an abundance of healthy foliage. Ideal sunlight for London plane trees should be bright and full throughout the day, with a minimum of 6 hours per day for ideally northern-facing locations. Avoid afternoon sun or prolonged exposure to the sun's direct rays, as that can damage the tree. Additionally, try to avoid strong winds that can blow leaves and branches off the tree.

Pruning a London Plane tree should be done in the late winter or early spring when the tree is dormant. The amount of pruning should be minimal in order to maintain the tree's natural shape and size. Dead, diseased, or damaged branches should be removed first. This is followed by removing suckers and water sprouts. Then thin out competing branches that are weak, are rubbing, or cross over 1 another. Finally, reduce the overall height and/or spread of the tree crowns when it is necessary. As a rule, never remove more than 1-third of the overall canopy. Typically, the main leader trunk should remain intact as much as possible.