Maple
Maple trees are what comes to mind once fall is in the air. As cooler weather approaches, these trees become transformed, taking on a whole new colorful appearance.
Maples are deciduous trees (sometimes shrubs) ,often grown for the shade they produce and for their autumn colors. Their spectacular fall leaf hues range from muted yellow to bright orange and red. In South Carolina, we mostly see japanese maples, Red maple, and sometimes southern sugar maple and chalkbark maple.
Maples vary in size from a small Japanese maple (8 feet) to a large sugar maple (100 feet). Maples may be used as lawn specimens, screens, patio trees, hedges, border accents and even container plants. There is such a wide variety of form and size that landscape use is dependent on the species being used. The ideal soil for most maples is rich, porous and well-drained.
Japanese maple, which is quite common in areas of South Carolina, is valued for many features: its interesting growth habit, fine leaf texture, and spring and fall leaf color. The Japanese maple is a very versatile plant. It can be used as a small lawn specimen, accent plant, patio tree, container plant or in a shrub border or groupings.
Silver Maples is the fastest growing of all American maple species (10 to 12 feet in four to five years). It grows 50 to 70 feet tall and 35 to 50 feet wide. It tolerates a wide variety of soils but prefers moist soils in deep woods and along stream banks. This tree has a very vigorous root system and will buckle sidewalks and clog drain tiles. Due to its rapid growth, the wood is weak and prone to storm damage. It is susceptible to many diseases and insect pests.
Most maples have bark that is thin and easily damaged by mechanical impact. Wounds expose the tree to greater susceptibility to disease and insects. Feeding roots on many maples are shallow, preventing good growth of turf beneath the canopy. Provide 3 to 4 inches of mulch beneath the canopy, covering any surface roots exposed. In addition to conserving soil moisture, mulch protects the trunk from mechanical damage and helps keep soil temperatures cool.
It is best to prune maples in late summer and early fall to minimize the impact on growth.
Reference:
Debbie Shaughnessy, HGIC Information Specialist, and Bob Polomski, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University. (New 06/99. Images added 11/06.
Maple trees are what comes to mind once fall is in the air. As cooler weather approaches, these trees become transformed, taking on a whole new colorful appearance.
Maples are deciduous trees (sometimes shrubs) ,often grown for the shade they produce and for their autumn colors. Their spectacular fall leaf hues range from muted yellow to bright orange and red. In South Carolina, we mostly see japanese maples, Red maple, and sometimes southern sugar maple and chalkbark maple.
Maples vary in size from a small Japanese maple (8 feet) to a large sugar maple (100 feet). Maples may be used as lawn specimens, screens, patio trees, hedges, border accents and even container plants. There is such a wide variety of form and size that landscape use is dependent on the species being used. The ideal soil for most maples is rich, porous and well-drained.
Japanese maple, which is quite common in areas of South Carolina, is valued for many features: its interesting growth habit, fine leaf texture, and spring and fall leaf color. The Japanese maple is a very versatile plant. It can be used as a small lawn specimen, accent plant, patio tree, container plant or in a shrub border or groupings.
Silver Maples is the fastest growing of all American maple species (10 to 12 feet in four to five years). It grows 50 to 70 feet tall and 35 to 50 feet wide. It tolerates a wide variety of soils but prefers moist soils in deep woods and along stream banks. This tree has a very vigorous root system and will buckle sidewalks and clog drain tiles. Due to its rapid growth, the wood is weak and prone to storm damage. It is susceptible to many diseases and insect pests.
Most maples have bark that is thin and easily damaged by mechanical impact. Wounds expose the tree to greater susceptibility to disease and insects. Feeding roots on many maples are shallow, preventing good growth of turf beneath the canopy. Provide 3 to 4 inches of mulch beneath the canopy, covering any surface roots exposed. In addition to conserving soil moisture, mulch protects the trunk from mechanical damage and helps keep soil temperatures cool.
It is best to prune maples in late summer and early fall to minimize the impact on growth.
Reference:
Debbie Shaughnessy, HGIC Information Specialist, and Bob Polomski, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University. (New 06/99. Images added 11/06.
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