Silver Maple Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a silver maple tree.
It can tolerate partial shade but will not thrive in full shade at all.
Aim to give your tree at least six hours of light daily, either direct or indirect.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Silver maples do not thrive in dry soil.
Fertilizer
Skip fertilizing a silver maple.
Faster growth will produce weaker wood, and they already grow at a blistering rate without any fertilizer.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
There are cultivars developed to accentuate certain attractive traits and to fix some of the tree’s problems.
Once established, yearly pruning is required to develop a strong tree.
It will need to be pruned so that major limbs remain smaller than half the trunk’s diameter.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Structural pruning also is a priority on your yearly to-do list to eliminate weak branch crotches.
Also, the trunk may develop sprouts;remove these suckerswith hand clippers and apply a sprout suppressant.
Silver maples are particularly poor at recovering from wounds.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Propagating Silver Maple
you could propagate silver maple from seed but this method is unreliable.
It’s easiest to propagate silver maples through the volunteer method or withcuttings.
You will find at least a dozen volunteer seedlings around your landscape from scattered samaras every year.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The seeds mature in late spring and may well sprout on their own.
Simply dig the seedlings and transplant them to the desired location (silver maples transplant well).
Treat most pests with a chemical management solution.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Gall mites may appear on the tree if there are growths orgallson the leaves.
These pests do not damage the tree and are not long-lasting, so no treatment is necessary.
The symptoms include wilting, dead branches, and discolored sapwood that appears dark green.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Treatment for lightly infected trees involves pruning dead and infected wood.
Seriously infected trees cannot be saved.
Common Problems With Silver Maple
Silver maple can be a problematic tree to grow.
Its roots and its seedlings can cause headaches.
Shallow Roots
Over time, a dense internet of exposed roots may form.
These roots can damage mower blades.
Avoid growing silver maple as a lawn tree.
Instead, grow it at the edge of your property ina woodland gardenthat receives some sun.
Unwanted Seedlings
Your silver maple may produce unwanted seedlings that you end up removing.
To avoid this issue, grow the ‘Silver Queen’cultivar.
Failing that, stay ahead of the problem by pulling up seedlings whenever you see them.
It also has weak branches that break easily.
Mature silver maples with multiple dominant stems should be cabled and braced.
The tree’s helicopters also land in gutters, clogging them.
Silver maple is known for its seeds, otherwise known as samaras, winged seeds, and helicopters.
You do not need to start seeds indoors.
The tree readily distributes its seeds, causing volunteer silver maples to pop up just about everywhere.
The silvery underside of its foliage is attractive, especially when the wind blows.
Silver maple is also hardy and requires no overwintering care.
Silver maple develops a mediocre yellow color in the autumn.
