Remove Norway Maple or not?
marcindy
14 years ago
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whaas_5a
14 years ago
ginkgonut
14 years agoRelated Discussions
neighbor having Norway Maples removed
Comments (10)I agree with Ken, another two bite the dust! LOL Seriously, it will be something of a shock when the trees are removed, but it is for the best. This is a case where it is better to have NO hair. I had 2 large Norway maples removed last November, and it took awhile to get used to the gaps that were left behind. But now I am thrilled. I am planting gardens and shrub borders instead! On the surface, these can be attractive trees, and they may work well in a contained urban setting. However, here in suburban/rural Northeast US, they are a scourge. I could go on and on about how horrible they are. But to summarize - - They are extremely invasive, and on the Prohibited plant list in Massachusetts. They make a million samaras and the seedlings sprout everywhere, and well beyond the boundaries of one's yard. They are one of the only species that can invade a mature forest. - Their canopies are extremely dense and aggressive, and cast a deep shade. The canopy spreads out wide and dominates its site, crowding out the canopies of neighboring trees (which can eventually die as the Norway grows bigger). When a Norway is removed, it is like "Let there be light". - Like other Maples, their roots grow near the surface and are very thirsty. They are also alleolopathic, which means they produce a toxin that prohibits the growth of other plants. Between this and the deep shade created by the canopy, it is very difficult to grow anything under a Norway maple. I have one remaining Norway maple which is GINORMOUS! The Vinca minor is the only thing growing happily under that one. I have been eyeballing it for removal....See MoreNorway Maple Tree removal! Help!
Comments (6)Laws vary from state to state, but in much of New England trees located close to property boundaries are known as "line trees" and are considered to belong to both property owners. The roots of a Norway maple are extensive and usually extend well beyond the tree's canopy. Eight feet is awfully close to the foundation and house for a tree of this size. A poured monolithic foundation is quite resistant to any root penetration, but it's a very different story with block foundations and (especially) stone ones. A root with the diameter of a hair can penetrate through a very narrow opening and then gradually increase in diameter enough cause damage. jean001a's suggestion is a good one. The damage done to the roots by the neighbor's construction may well have created a dangerous situation for both you and your neighbor. Since you are very likely co-owners of the tree, you are equally responsible - including financially responsible - for removing the tree if that is the recommendation of a qualified arborist. Again, check your state laws on this. Stump grinding is usually a pretty minor expense compared to taking down a large tree in a location that requires lots of care to avoid damage to buildings, etc. Unless the roots have already penetrated the foundation, I don't see any way removing the stump would cause damage to it....See MoreRemoval of a large Norway Maple (pic heavy)
Comments (6)They couldn't just drop that tree because there are gardens and a baby shrub/tree nursery (as well as the lawn) just in front of the area where they are working. Also I didn't want to hit the dead trees, the White Pine in back and other natives. But that tree came down really fast compared to the other large one that was next to the house. Yes those are two dead Pinus resinosa the Norway killed off. There are about a dozen Red pine snags that were victims of either Acer platanoides or Celastrus orbiculatus. I asked him not to hit those because I'm leaving all the snags up for the birds. I'm planning to use them as a natural trellis and start growing native vines up them next spring as cover and food for the birds. And there are still about 18 Red pines that are alive and healthy scattered through the yard. He said I was the first customer that asked him to take down live trees and leave up the dead ones! :)...See MoreNorway Maples Vs. Vines! Pics Included
Comments (5)Hello TJ, The following article contains instructions to remove invasive Norway Maple from a woodland, using a 'stepped' approach: "What to do if you suspect a Natural Area is being invaded by Exotic Trees: It is not easy to contemplate removal of trees as part of sensitive environmental management, however the fact is that invasive exotics are causing significant environmental disruption worldwide, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and ecological functioning to natural ecosystems. First, a survey of the site should be conducted identifying remaining native species of trees and shrubs, and invading exotics such as Norway Maple, European Buckhorn, Tatarian and Amur Honeysuckle. Where there are only a few exotics saplings mixed with native species, these invaders could likely be removed without causing any disruption. The problem arises when the forest canopy is mostly exotic, since removing all of them at once could cause serious problems, including opening the site to further invasions of exotics and soil erosion. Removals around any existing native trees would be a start, as well as removing all exotic seedlings, and saplings where larger trees form the canopy. Where large exotic trees exist, removing the lower limbs to allow light to the forest floor is an initial step to consider where complete removal would open up the forest canopy too severely. If native tree seedlings are not naturally establishing, then planting is called for. As the native forest grows, further thinning of the exotics can take place, until they and the seed source is eventually eliminated. Through this process, a return to a native forest association should occur without opening the forest canopy. Since the ground flora may recover under the lighter shade than Norway Maple provides, it is important that it not be further impacted by invading plants of open conditions that would occur if the canopy were opened too quickly." One word of caution: Norway Maples put out "phytotoxins" - which are chemicals that are toxic to most native plants. It is not just the shade, but the phytotoxins which prevent the establishment of native understory, shrub and groundcover layers below Norway Maples - even with thinned branches overhead. My neighbours and I have wasted thousands of dollars trying to plant under Norways in our ravine. The majority die - even when we've created elaborate watering systems to compensate for the Norways (I know - defeats the whole point of planting natives in the first place!). We've had some success by replacing large areas of soil when we plant - but we've recently learned the phytotoxins are in the leaves as well - so those plants just take longer to die. Not to discourage you - it only seems to relentlessly kill plants in some locations - not all. But if anyone has any information on NM phytotoxins - and what to do about it so that we have better success establishing a native layer (ANY native layer - after a few years of NM we have only three layers: 100+ year old oaks, complete NM understory,rapidly eroding bare sandy soil with a few still hanging-on hardcore natives (toad lilly, trillium)) - I'd really appreciate hearing about it! Here is a link that might be useful: Norway Maple: Reassessing the threat to natural areas...See More
Carrie B
14 years ago
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years agomarcindy
14 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years agowhaas_5a
14 years agoDan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years agopineresin
14 years agomarcindy
14 years agowhaas_5a
14 years agoterrene
14 years agomarcindy
14 years agomarcindy
14 years agoEmbothrium
14 years ago
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