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MAPLES CAN WOW YOU WITH DAZZLING FALL COLOR
I think trees should be taught in elementary school right along with reading and writing. I get calls from people who can't tell a pine from a pin oak, and when they go to purchase a tree they make poor choices that they regret for many years.
This is an ideal time to plant trees. If you don't have room to plant a tree in your own yard, ask a neighbor if you can plant one in their yard.
A tree is a living monument. Plant a tree in someone's honor or memory, and that tree will remind you - and others - of that person for decades to come.
Now, don't just plant any old tree. There are too many great trees to choose from to waste the effort on a tree that has bad habits (i.e., brittle branches, heaving roots or disease susceptibility).
Select a tree that will satisfy your objectives and fit your space. Search out the tree specialist at your favorite reputable garden center. Tell him or her where you want to plant the tree (in sun or shade, north or south side of house, wet or dry soil, etc.), and what you like best about a tree (fall color, shade, appeal to wildlife, etc.).
One tree family that offers a great deal of variety - and can be quite confusing - is the maple. To avoid mistakes, you almost have to use the scientific genus + species names. No two nurseries label their stock alike, so it's best to go armed with some prior knowledge. For the maples listed below, I've included both the common and scientific names.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) - The maple most people think of first, and the source of maple syrup. Sugar maples can grow to 65 ft. and show off dazzling red, orange and yellow fall color. If you have room for a sugar maple, consider the cultivars "Majesty," "Green Mountain" or "Legacy."
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) - Fastest growing of all maples, to a mature height of 75 ft. Not a good front or back yard tree because it has brittle branches and vigorous roots that can damage sidewalks and lawns.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) - Grows to 60 ft. and boasts outstanding red fall color. Red maples like full sun and slightly acid, moist soil. Select a variety from a northern seed source...best bets are "Northwood," "Olson" and "Autumn Spire."
Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii) - A hybrid cross of silver and red maple that combines the good color of red maple with the fast growth of silver maple (but without the above-ground roots and brittle branches). Grows to 40-60 ft. Most-popular variety is "Autumn Blaze."
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) - A strong-branched tree that provides dense shade. Some varieties have red or purple leaves early, which turn green in summer. Fall leaf color is usually yellow. Grows to 40-60 ft. Good choices are "Deborah" and "Emerald Queen."
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) - Can be grown as small tree or multi-stemmed hedge. Grows to 15-18 ft. Brilliant orange-crimson fall color. Some varieties have showy fruits (seeds) in summer/early fall that add interest but can be annoying on manicured lawn.
Tatarian Maple (Acer tataricum) - Very similar to amur maple; grows to 25 ft. Both tatarian and amur maples are good trees for planters and patios.
Boxelder (Acer negundo) - Yes, a boxelder is a maple! But don't plant one...pick one of the maples listed above.
Most people like maples for their fall color. For this reason, you might want to wait until fall to plant a maple. Then you can browse a nursery and pick the tree with the best color. But even that's not a sure thing; my father and I once selected a dazzling red/orange-leafed sugar maple out of a woods and planted it in my front yard. For the next 15 autumns, it turned from green to pale yellow to drab brown.
Remember that maples are susceptible to sunscald injury on the south and southwest sides of the trunk in winter. The bark heats up during mid-day, then cools quickly when the sun sets, resulting in vertical splits in the trunk bark. To reduce incidence of sunscald injury, wrap trunks with tree wrap in late fall and remove wrap in April.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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