Maple Trees

About

What You Need To Know About Maple Trees Where do Maple Trees Grow? Several maples are native to the United States, but this large group of trees grows all over the world. Many maple species are native to Asia, but maples are also found in North America, Europe, and Northern Africa. How Fast do Maple Trees Grow? Most maple trees can grow about 2 feet per year. Faster growing varieties like silver maple , autumn blaze maple , and October glory maple can grow 3 to 5 feet in a single growing season. Japanese maples are slower growing. While larger varieties can grow as much as a foot or even 2 feet in a single year when they are younger, they may only grow an inch or 2 in height per year when they are older. How Long Do Maple Trees Live? Maple trees tend to have fairly long lifespans. Sugar maples tend to have the longest lifespan, living 300 to 400 years. Red maples average around 130 years, but can survive up to 300 years. The fast growing silver maple tends to have the shortest lifespan of the shade maples, averaging about 100 years. Japanese maples can live over 100 years. When to Prune Maple Trees If you want to avoid dripping sap prune your maple tree in late spring or summer. This is ideal if you have to perform any heavy pruning. However fall and winter pruning are fine for any minor pruning that is required. Broken, dead, or diseased branches should be removed when you notice them. When to Plant Maple Trees Plant maple trees in spring and fall for best results. They can also be planted in winter if the ground is digable. Areas with mild summers can plant in summer. Offer plenty of water when planting in summer to combat stress from heat and acclimation. How to Care for Maple Trees Maple trees are no maintenance once they are established. They are adaptable to most soil types, but prefer well-drained soil. Water newly planted maples deeply 2 to 3 times per week for the first couple months. Apply a mound of mulch around young maple trees to reduce watering needs