The reason silver maples are desired as landscape trees is also what causes some of the biggest issues. The fast-growing branches result in weak limbs that are susceptible to breakage and highly prone to structural defects. This kind of weak wood is a liability to anything in the surrounding area, including the tree itself. The tree must be pruned regularly when first planted by a certified arborist to train for correct growth. Silver maples with multiple trunks are particularly hazardous, because one side is liable to break off. Mature silver maples with multiple dominant stems should be cabled and braced. This same rapid growth needs a vigorous shallow root system to support the tree as it matures. The problem this causes is that the roots can sometimes damage sewers, septic systems, foundations, and sidewalks. You can avoid costly damage from roots by planting silver maples far from your infrastructure and planning future projects accordingly. Another common issue with silver maples is how successful they are as a species. Not just as a single tree but as a species overall. Many people consider silver maples messy and weedy because they distribute samaras or maple seeds or what many people call helicopters everywhere. These eventually cause volunteer silver maples to pop up just about everywhere. The weediness combined with the damage-causing potential has led some municipalities to prohibit the planting of the species. Be sure to check local ordinances before planting to be safe. Even if you cannot grow a silver maple, there are a variety of other fast-growing tree shade trees you can grow. In the end, as always, the best thing is, plan appropriately, do some research and see if this species is the right tree for your landscape project. It will save you a ton of work and money in the future.
Light
Planting your silver maple in an area that gets plenty of sunlight will ensure you it has the best conditions to stay healthy and produce the lovely vibrant green foliage for which it’s known. It can tolerate partial shade but will not thrive in full shade at all. Aim to give your tree at least 6 hours of light daily, either direct or indirect.
Soil
Though adaptable to multiple soil conditions, the one common element you should be looking for in soil when thinking about silver maples is moisture. Silver maples do not thrive in dry soil; this needs to be considered when planting your tree. Ideally, you want to plant your tree in moist to wet, well-draining soil that is somewhat rich in organics. Giving your tree this soil will make it grow happily.
Water
If grown in the proper conditions and region, your silver maple should not require supplemental watering once it is established. Until that time, you will want to water your tree abundantly when you plant it and weekly for the first two seasons until you can be sure it’s established. Follow the rule of 2 to 3 gallons of water per caliper inch of trunk diameter. After the second year, let mother nature do its thing and only lend a hand in times of drought and only if the tree looks like it’s struggling.
Temperature and Humidity
Silver maples prefer the eastern seaboard and its cool falls and springs, cold winters, and wet warm summers. In short, it enjoys four seasons with a range of moderate temperatures that produce a good amount of moisture. Planting your tree anywhere outside of USDA 3a-9a will challenge your maple’s hardiness, and it will struggle.
Fertilizer
Being a tree that is typically a forest tree, the silver maple does not need supplemental fertilizer. It will thrive without any amendments and supplements as long as the soil is sufficiently moist.
Types of Silver Maples
Like most trees today, the silver maple has had cultivars developed by horticulturalists to accentuate certain traits. Sadly these cultivars do not solve any of the wildtype’s failings and address form or color. These cultivars are still worth looking at as they are attractive and unique.
Acer saccharinum ‘Weiri’ - smaller, cut-leaved form with pendulous branches.Acer saccharinum ‘Silver Queen’ - bright chartreuse leaves with almost white leaf undersides.Acer saccharinum ‘Skinneri’- large weeping, pyramidal form.Acer x fremanii - a hybrid cross between Red, for color and Silver Maple for fast growth.
Pruning
The major work of owning and caring for a silver maple comes from pruning. When first becoming established, the tree needs regular pruning by a certified arborist to train it to grow in the correct shape. 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. Structural pruning also is a priority on your yearly to-do list to eliminate weak branch crotches. Also, the trunk may develop sprouts; you should remove these suckers with hand clippers and apply a sprout suppressant. Silver maples are particularly poor at recovering from wounds, so if yours has a defect, it is often not possible for an arborist to correct it without risking the tree succumbing to rot or disease. Any pruning cuts must be kept very small, which is why it is so critical to prune for desired growth structure early on.
Propagating Silver Maples
Though you could certainly try to grow a silver maple from a seed or through propagation, the easiest way to propagate silver maples is through the volunteer method. You will find that at least a dozen volunteer seedlings around your landscape from scattered samaras every year. Dig them up, place the seedlings in a pot large enough for a good root system to develop, filled with peat, sand, vermiculite, perlite, or any good soilless mix, and watch your volunteer silver maple grow.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Numerous insects bother the silver maple, but none are serious enough to cause a health tree big worries. Luckily you can treat most of the pests with a chemical management solution. The most obvious insect is often the gall mite due to the growths or galls on the leaves that they leave in their wake. These do no damage to the tree and are not long-lasting, so no treatment is necessary. Several diseases also attack silver maples. Most of these are not very serious. Unfortunately, one, verticillium wilt, can cause some issues and can lead to tree death. The symptoms are wilting and dead branches and sapwood that has been discolored to dark green. You cannot save seriously infected trees. Treatment for lightly infected trees is pruning away dead and infected wood.
title: “How To Grow And Care For Silver Maple” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-26” author: “Manuel Grant”
Silver maple is a high-maintenance tree. It has weak limbs that tend to break during wind storms and snowstorms, causing you the extra work of having to clean up the debris afterward.
Light
Grow silver maple tree in full sun for best results, although it is tolerant of partial shade.
Soil
As a tree naturally accustomed to the silt of floodplains, silver maple performs best in a light soil.
Water
While silver maple can be grown in wet soils, it tolerates drought once established. For best performance, however, water it regularly when young.
Temperature and Humidity
Adaptable to a wide range of climates (from zone 3 to zone 9), silver maple is not troubled by humid conditions. Nor is it fussy about temperature, performing just as well in cold climates as in warmer climates.
Fertilizer
You can skip fertilizing a silver maple. Faster growth will produce weaker wood, and they already grow at a blistering rate without any fertilizer. You can test your soil and fertilize if there is a deficiency, but otherwise the tree with be happy with simple organic fertilizers like mulch.
Types of Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum ‘Beebe’ offers semi-pendulous limbs.Acer saccharinum ‘Blair’ was bred to have stronger wood, obviating the chief drawback of silver maples: branches easily damaged by stormsAcer saccharinum ‘Silver Queen’ is a good choice for those who do not want to be bothered with having to pull unwanted seedlings, since it is seedless.
Pruning
Silver maple needs to be pruned only after limbs have been damaged. The damaged limbs should be pruned back to the collar.
Propagating Silver Maple
Silver maple can be propagated through two different methods, but the most reliable method is via (softwood) cuttings taken in mid-summer or mid-fall. Here’s how to propagate the plant via cuttings:
How to Grow Silver Maple From Seed
You can also grow silver maple from seed on your own, but this method is unreliable. It is better to let nature take its course. Paired samaras (containing the seed) succeed silver maple flowers. The seeds mature in late spring and may well sprout on their own. So you may not have to take special steps to propagate silver maple. In such cases, simply dig the seedlings and transplant them to the desired location (silver maples transplant well).
Overwintering
Silver maple is a very hardy tree. No extra care is required to overwinter it.
Common Problems With Silver Maple
Silver maple is a highly problematic plant to grow. Both its roots and its seedlings can cause you headaches.
Shallow Roots
Over time, a dense network of exposed roots may form, roots that can damage mower blades when you mow the lawn. The solution is to avoid growing silver maple as a lawn tree. Instead, grow it at the edge of your property, in a woodland garden.
Unwanted Seedlings
Your silver maple may produce unwanted seedlings that you end up having to remove. The solution here is to grow the ‘Silver Queen’ cultivar. Failing that, stay ahead of the problem. Do not wait until your yard becomes overgrown with such seedlings. At your earliest convenience, pull them whenever you see them.
