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Caring for your maple

Pruning young sugar maples – Tree care at the Maple Leaves Forever farm Part 3

It’s been almost two years since we planted some 175-200 cm sugar maple saplings on the Farm. An arborist will recommend  that you wait at least 2-3 years before attempting any pruning but we knew a few of these trees could use our help. Most deciduous trees and shrubs should be pruned when they are dormant, preferably in the early… READ MORE »Pruning young sugar maples – Tree care at the Maple Leaves Forever farm Part 3

Lesson Learned – Weed trimmers can kill trees

Last summer we visited a landowner who was concerned with the early-fall colour change several of the maples along his laneway displayed. Click here for related story. Closer examination revealed that property maintenance staff had severely damaged the bark and underlying tissue around the trunk at  the base of the trees, while using a string trimmer to cut the grass… READ MORE »Lesson Learned – Weed trimmers can kill trees

Early Fall leaf colour change indicates failing health

Our Tree Guy answered a call from a concerned landowner with a tree problem. Several of the maple trees that lined his laneway were showing an out-of-season ‘fall-like’ colour change. Premature leaf colour change is a reliable indicator of failing health. First thoughts were that the trees were suffering from extreme drought stress. The trees hadn’t been watered this year.… READ MORE »Early Fall leaf colour change indicates failing health

Watering trees especially important during summer drought conditions

Maples and other trees can be damaged by drought stress in dry summer weather Southern Ontario frequently experiences hot, dry conditions during the summer months. When drought conditions are prolonged, these dry conditions can have a negative impact on our rural landscape.  Deep rooted species like oaks have a higher tolerance of drought than more shallow-rooted species like sugar maple,… READ MORE »Watering trees especially important during summer drought conditions

Lessons Learned – Tree-watering bags save wilted trees

A note from one of our rebate recipients: I talked with our friends at Maple Leaves Forever last week when the leaves on one of the sugar maples I planted along my laneway three years ago took on a wilted appearance. What’s up? I live and work in the city and escape to my farm on the weekends, so the… READ MORE »Lessons Learned – Tree-watering bags save wilted trees

Leaf Scorch on Young Maples

Leaf Scorch, a noninfectious, environmental condition, occurs when young trees experience prolonged periods of dry, windy weather, low rainfall and high temperatures with bright sunshine when the trees roots are unable to supply water to the foliage as rapidly as it is lost by transpiration from the leaves. Plants draw in water from the soil, use it for plant growth,… READ MORE »Leaf Scorch on Young Maples

MLF Guide to planting small seedlings

The following question came in to the MLF inbox, and we thought the answer might interest fellow maple advocates: To plant or not plant saplings over their first winter? Hello, I discovered 16 saplings under my maple tree this spring and transplanted them into containers to protect and preserve them from meeting their demise due to my lawnmower. How should… READ MORE »MLF Guide to planting small seedlings

Fall & Winter Care of your Maple Trees

Planting: Fall is a good time to plant saplings (maples or other native species), but it should be done after the sapling goes into dormancy, exhibited by losing its leaves. Fall planting should only be done with containerized stock. Bare root stock will have a much lower survival rate when planted in the fall. After planting the dormant sapling, remove… READ MORE »Fall & Winter Care of your Maple Trees

Nursery Work – Maple pollination, collection of seed and sapling development

Sugar maple trees seldom flower until they are at least 22 years old, and flowering is heavier at later ages. Typically, both male and female flowers are produced on the same tree. Maple trees are considered to be wind-pollinated. Flying insects may also play a role in pollination. The production of seed begins with pendulous clusters of yellowish flowers that… READ MORE »Nursery Work – Maple pollination, collection of seed and sapling development

MLF answers question about sick maple tree

A few weeks ago, we received a Tweet from one of our contacts asking: @MLeavesForever any ideas why the top branches of my #maple grow well at first then top most leaves brown buds die? A tree expert and friend of Maple Leaves Forever, Carl Mansfield, looked into this question for us: I checked a few references to confirm my… READ MORE »MLF answers question about sick maple tree