Fast-growing Sugar Maple
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16 years ago
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spruceman
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Sugar Maple isn't growing well
Comments (17)You did discover the problem. Many reports have been posted on this web site, which list that a tree often times will survive if planted too deeply, but even though it survives, its growth and development will be stunted. It is good to know that the rootflair is not circling and in good form. When you raise the tree, use a heavy tonged short handled garden fork and pack lots of soil beneath the rootball. Try to do this from one or two sides only, so you will not have to raise the root ball completely out of the soil. Your tree should end up being high enough that the soil level covering the rootball is just under the spot on the trunk where the topmost root of the rootfare is growing out of that trunk. Then once the base soil is compacted enough not to settle more and over time not to let the tree sink too low again; simply dig away enough soil from one side of the root ball so you can use a sharp knife to cut about and inch deep from the top of the rootball to the bottom. After doing that, fill the dirt back in on that side of the rootball. Repeat the digging, cutting, and filling back in process for three more times, until you end up having made 4 cuts evenly space all around the rootball. Finally, pound three 6 feet tall "T" stakes evenly space around the tree's trunk and about 10 to 12 inches away from the trunk. Secure the tree to the stakes with non bark-damaging ties, but keep the ties slack enough for the tree to still be able to sway some during prevailing winds and wind gusts. Check and adjust these ties every month, or before if it can be clearly seen that the tree needs to be adjusted to prevent too much trunk lean and/or too much sway that could make the new roots growing out from the root ball become broken out of the new soil. This breakage might occur from too much root stress if the entire length of the trunk is allowed to trunk whips back and forth with the wind. Be patient with your tree, because many reports describe sugar maples trees as being slow to establish. You will know your tree finally is well established once you begin to see it growing at least a foot each year. If you have continued to adjust the ties by tightening or loosening the slack as the tree indicates is needed; by that time when the tree shows it is well adjusted, then the tree should be able to handle the the removal of ties. After you end up doing that watch the tree, and if it does well then you can also remove the stakes. If not, you will need to retie the tree, but maybe by that time only two or one of the stakes will need to be secured to the tree with ties. If that happens then each month try to increase the slack in the ties a little more each time, until you notice the tree probably no longer needs to be staked....See MoreMy sugar maple tree stop growing
Comments (0)About 4 years ago, I cut the top of my maple tree. Ever since then, the tree stop growing taller. It is about 5.5 feet tall (about the same height 4 years ago). How can I get my tree to grow tall again?...See MoreHow to prune a maple?
Comments (1)That sounds about right. Depending on the size of the branches, I don't think it would hurt to prune out more than just the bottom two if needed. But you should never prune off more than 25% of the tree. And of course the ultimate height that you want the bottom branches will be up to your personal preferance. If for some reason you wanted pruned up to 20 ft high you could do this if you followed the "a few branches a year" plan....See MoreMaple: 'What's the Rule of Thumb' on Distance
Comments (11)I had the same problem; planted 3 hosta under a maple tree, started to have all sorts of problems. 1/2 of my lawn in the backyard is almost gone & it follows the maple's drip line. I have found roots 40 feet away from the tree! Overgrown roots had burst a piece of the driveway & feeder roots were starting to show on the raised hosta bed...I had to make a choice...took the fish tank cleaning tool (basically a suction tool that works with gravity), drilled a deep, 3/8" hole @ the base of the maple (the size of the hose on the cleaning tool), put some mineral oil on the end of the hose to ease it in & create a seal & then...let him have it! Bought 3 bottles of RoundUp concentrate for Tough Brush & Poison Ivy (1 bottle is enough to clear a small forest!) & just poured it down the other end of the hose (just like an I.V.)FULL STRENGTH!!! The silly maple tree just sucked it all up in a couple of hours. That maple tree is extra-crispy, deader than dead 2 weeks later & I'm getting ready to cut it down in the fall. I hated to do this, but the sacrifice of one will save many...and anyways, I'll always have the one in the front yard......See Morequirkyquercus
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoEmbothrium
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agomattlwfowler
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agonotes
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agolou_spicewood_tx
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agohairmetal4ever
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoEmbothrium
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agodawgie
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoarktrees
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoEmbothrium
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoarktrees
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agokaitain4
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoTim
13 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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