They are easy to deal with in that they are not deeply rooted, but there could be many of them depending on conditions. So, any flower bed with moist soil will likely have new trees each Summer. These will readily germinate if they are kept moist. Mature Silver Maples will drop thousands of seeds each Spring. This can make them particularly attractive when the leaves are fluttering in the wind. Silver Maple leaves have contrasting colors with the upper side being a dark green while the underside being a silver-like color. So Silver Maple can attract a wide variety of wildlife to your yard. In addition to birds, numerous other mammals will feed on the seeds in Spring/Summer. These attract some birds, while numerous other species of birds eat the seeds. The leaves and wood of Silver Maple are fed on by many insects such as moths and several long-horned beetles. It can get quite wide at 35-70’, and a pair of Silver Maples placed correctly can provide lots of shade to most homes. Silver Maple has a handsome ovoid crown making it a great shade tree. In perfect conditions of moist soil and full sun it can grow up to 7’ per year. Silver Maple is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) growing trees in North America. Sources Pros and Cons of Silver Maple Pros Fast Growing Many wood-boring insects, birds, mammals. Sources Silver Maple Reference Table Scientific NameĬentral North America, USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9 The native range of Silver Maple covers most of the Midwest and the border of Canada from Manitoba South to Oklahoma and Georgia, and North to Maine, Southern Quebec and New Brunswick. The streets, yards, and gutters would be filled with thousands of helicopters (seeds with a wing) each Spring, followed by thousands of seedlings some weeks later, particularly along the river banks where there was bare soil or mud. It is readily identifiable in most locations due to it’s distinct bark or silver-backed leaves, once you can ID this tree you will see it frequently along creeks, rivers, and ponds.Īs I was growing up in the bottom lands of the Mississippi River, Silver Maple was one of the most common trees I would see. It grows rapidly and will live for 100-150 years or more. Dominant on the periphery of water ways and lakes, it doesn’t perform as well in interior forests as it is generally overtaken by taller hardwoods such as Black Walnut and Pin Oak. Īlthough technically a hardwood, it is also known as soft maple (along with Red Maple trees). Numerous species of wildlife eat the seeds. One of the fasted growing trees at can grow 3-7’ per year in optimum conditions. Scientifically known as Acer saccharinum, it grows 50-100’ tall in full sun and wet to medium-moist soil. Silver Maple is a deciduous, medium-sized tree native to North America. What Wildlife, Pests, and Diseases effect Silver Maple. What are the pros and cons of Silver Maple.And you could say it was one of the first species that got me interested in trees, whether it was playing with the ‘helicopters’, germinating the seeds, or even testing my parents patience by transplanting a 3′ sapling into our back yard without permission! But I can share all I’ve learned with you in this profile. I grew up surrounded by these trees on the floodplains of the Mississippi. This feature makes for a beautiful site on a breezy summer day. Readily identifiable in Summer by it’s leaf color in which the upper side is green while the underside is a ‘sliver’ or gray color. Once the 100-day cold stratification period is up – ideally in early spring – it’s sowing time.One of the most common trees you may encounter near water is known as Silver Maple. It’s fine for the tray to be exposed to freezing temperatures, frost, and snow during this period. Place the tray in an area sheltered from the wind outdoors for 100 days. Instead of using a plastic bag, fill a seed starting tray with good drainage with your medium, and secure a screen on top to keep out any hungry rodents. Keep the media moist the entire time, opening the bag and spritzing the medium with water as needed.Ĭold stratification can also be done outdoors if you prefer. Place this in a refrigerator set to 33 to 39☏ for 100 days. Poke holes in the bag to increase air circulation, and place the baggie in a shallow bowl or box to catch any spills. Put the viable ones in a zip-top plastic bag filled with a moist 50/50 mix of peat moss and sand. “Warm” doesn’t mean “scalding,” though – if the water is too hot for your hand, then it’s too hot for the seeds.Īfter 24 hours, take a look at your seeds: the ones that sink are likely viable, while the ones that float should be discarded. Maple seeds have a tough coat, and may take up to two years to germinate naturally outdoors, so this will help to speed up germination. At this time, place the seeds in a bucket and soak them in warm water for 24 hours.
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