Topic: Sugar Maples

[duh]

Does anyone know anything about sugar maples?  I get curious about certain plants from time to time and right now it is sugar maples.

Any and all information about them is welcome.

Sorry I didn't know where to put this post.  If you have to move it that's ok.

[Wrennie]

they get BIG. Have gorgeous fall foliage. If you look at one from a distance the branches form an egg shape.(all of them all together that is) You can tap them for syrup in the spring. You need ALOT of sap to make a little syrup. Maple is also a very good wood for fires.

[Tina]

Maple is very good for wood fires and the smoke (hopefully on the outside of your house) smells like burnt sugar.

[patches]

Sugar maples are an beautifully shaped tree and they can get to be up to about 7-8 stories high.  In the fall, the leaves turn a breathtaking bright red-orange color.  Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to see an awesome display of them in gold, orange, burnt orange and red-orange when I went to Wisconsin in the fall.    

[duh]

Wow that's a lot taller than I assumed.

Does anyone know if they loose their branches easily.  We have a maple in the backyard here not a sugar variety and it can loose some pretty big branches.  The reason I'm asking is I was thinking of putting a couple around the trailer if I managed to get one.  Not that I'm planning ahead or anything lol. 

It actually sounds like this would be a good tree for the north side of the property where it's shade wouldn't affect other plantings. 

Thankyou so much for the information.

[Wrennie]

I once had a striped maple, also called moosewood, that dropped branches with every big storm. The sugars I dont believe drop them nearly as easily.

[patches]

Wow that's a lot taller than I assumed. 

I know, Duh, but it's really going to take quite a few years before one ever  reaches those heights.  I've always loved the large, old trees, but in recent years my thinking has changed quite a bit, since I've seen all the damage they can do in the kind of storms we have around here.   

[duh]

It sounds like something for the northern border of a property.  That way you don't have to worry about it blocking any sun and you still get the possibility of syrup when they mature. 

[patches]

They are really beautiful trees, Duh,    but I think it takes a lot of work to actually get the syrup.    I don't anyone who's ever done it,    but it seems like I saw a program about it on the educational channel at one time.  

[duh]

Once they matured it might be a fun activity for a cub scout troop or something like that.  And it would be nice to have the option even if I never actually did anything about it.  And I do love maple leaves and the fall color. 

[patches]

Hey, Duh, that's a good idea, but after all the years of being a Girl Scout leader for both my daughter and granddaughter, I've decided to retire from thinking about any scout activities.     On the other hand, if I had enough land where I could plant  some Sugar Maples far enough away from my house, I would definitely plant them for their beautiful shape and foliage.