Landscaping enthusiasts have many options for achieving colorful yards in autumn. Yet perhaps nothing else in eastern North America is as intimately associated with the fall foliage season as are the different types of maple trees. Although, for all trees, fall foliage color varies based on many factors, like precipitation, temperatures, and more throughout the year at your location.
Take a look at some of the best varieties when thinking about landscaping ideas for fall colors in your yard.
12 Trees That Offer Brilliant Fall Color and Bonus Features
Red Maple TreesGrey Color On Branches On Maple Tree Look
The fall foliage of red maples (Acer rubrum spp.) unfortunately sometimes makes a liar out of the trees' common name.
The dirty little secret is that the color of its autumn leaves is sometimes yellow, depending on conditions (even its alternate common name, 'swamp maple' is something of a misnomer because its wild habitat is not restricted to swampy areas). It is best to stick with cultivars known for their fall color consistency, such as Autumn Blaze. If you want red fall foliage, try purchasing Acer rubrum Red Sunset, a tree that will reach about 50 feet in height, with a spread of a little less than that. This red maple tree grows best in zones 4 though 9 in full sun to partial shade, where the soil pH is acidic and the ground provides good drainage. It does, however, tolerate clay soil.
Even relatively consistent cultivars such as Red Sunset maple trees, however, are at the mercy of the weather. The intensity of fall foliage color can be lessened due to extreme summer heat and drought. And you are not out of the woods once fall arrives. Optimal fall foliage is dependent upon sunny days and crisp nights at the beginning of the autumn season.
Sugar Maple Trees
Sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum) should be grown in zones 3 to 8, in an area of your yard that is well-drained and gets full to partial sun. Famous as the source of maple syrup, sugar maple trees can reach 80 feet or more in height, with a spread of up to 60 feet. Sugar maples have a fall foliage color range from yellow to orange to red.
How to Grow the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) in the Home Garden
Silver and Norway Maple Trees
Norway maple trees (Acer platanoides) adapt well to many soil types and environmental conditions. In fact, they adapt too well, as they have become an invasive plant in North America. For this reason, you might want to substitute that Norway maple with sugar maple trees or red maple trees, which boast superior beauty anyway.
A reason for the widespread use of Norway maples as shade trees in urban areas across the U.S. is that they tolerate pollution better than many trees. Fall foliage color is yellow and it reaches an approximate size of 50 feet high and 50 feet wide. Norway maples do best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is another tree that is not recommended. It too has yellow fall foliage, but it is an altogether unappealing pale shade of yellow. On top of that, this type has weak limbs that are prone to storm damage. Two of its few good points are that it is a fast-growing shade tree and tolerates wet soil. Grow it in full sun in growing zones 3 to 9.
Amur Maple Trees
Amur maple trees (Acer ginnala Flame) are grown in zones 2 through 8 and are a compact alternative to the specimens described above, attaining a maximum size of only about 20 feet by 20 feet. Like Norway maple trees, however, they are considered invasive. Although they can tolerate light shade, Amur maple trees achieve their best fall color if you make an effort to ensure they get full sun. The effort will pay off handsomely; their fall foliage color is a brilliant red.
Also from Asia originally and also bearing red fall foliage is the paperbark maple (Acer griseum). Most authorities, however, do not list it as invasive. Its common name alludes to the fact that its peeling bark is considered ornamental like the bark on some types of birch trees.
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Striped Maple (Moosewood)
Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) is native to the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. It is also called moosewood, because moose eat it, as do deer, rabbits, porcupines, and beavers. This is a good native choice if you are seeking a small tree for fall foliage color since it attains a maximum height of just 30 feet. It can easily be kept shorter than that by pruning; you can grow it as a shrub if you wish.
Its leaves turn a nice yellow in fall. The primary common name, striped maple refers to the white stripes that run vertically up the green bark of the trunk of the tree when it is young. This is an understory tree in the wild and needs to be planted in a shady spot in the landscape. For soil, a sandy loam is best, since it requires good drainage.
Hedge Maples
One type of maple has a highly specialized use in the landscape, the hedge maple (Acer campestre), which, as its common name suggests, is used in tall hedges. Hedge maples are valued not so much for their fall foliage as for their growth habit and the fact that they are tolerant of compacted soil and pollution.
In terms of growth habit, their branching pattern is dense and begins far down on the trunk. Also, they are slow-growers. Put all these facts together, and it is easy to see how Acer campestre with a little judicious pruning (they can reach a height of 35 feet if left unchecked) could be an ideal choice where a tall hedge is wanted to screen a property along a roadside.
Live in an Urban Area? Try the Hedge Maple
Comments (113)
suqsie
I have a 20 ft Jap maple that I planted too close to my living room window. I would like to prune it, but I have read that this is a no no. Has anyone else done this successfully? I hate to cut it down.
I have a lot of Japanese maples in the garden and I cut/trim the branches anytime ..spring, fall, winter and summer , without any negative effect on the trees.
Logic confessions of a dangerous mind download. We have a few mature Japanese maples that we have had a professional prune a few times. They can get out of hand and a pro pruning doesn't hurt it.
Written by Amanda Flanigan; Updated December 09, 2018
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When white spots appear on the bark, you know something is amiss with the maple (Acer) tree. Various diseases affecting maple trees can cause discolorations on the tree bark. These diseases may lead to serious problems such as defoliation, branch dieback and death of the maple tree. Once you have determined the cause of the white spots, take the necessary actions to control the disease.
Valsa Cankers
A maple infected with valsa cankers will develop shallow cankers on its branches, stems and bark. These cankers will contain many small, white or grayish pimple-like bumps. This disease occurs when the fungal pathogen enters through injured bark caused by mechanical damage or pruning cuts. Valsa cankers also result in wilting and discoloration of the leaves, and branch dieback. Valsa cankers are most prevalent during periods of high humidity and rain, and trees that are unhealthy and stressed are more prone to valsa cankers. There is no cure for valsa cankers and control measures rely on cultural care. Provide enough water to the tree during periods of drought and ensure the roots have proper drainage. Immediately remove and destroy branches with cankers from the tree. Prune maple trees in the spring during dry conditions and disinfect pruning shears after each cut.
Armillara Root Rot
Also known as shoestring rot, armillaria root rot results in stunted growth and poor leaf production. Branch dieback and girdling will begin to occur and the life of the maple tree is threatened. Armillara root rot spreads via rhizomorphs, which look similar to black shoestrings and are attached to infected stumps and roots. These rhizomorphs spread throughout the soil and infect stressed or damaged maple trees. Loose bark will reveal white fan-shaped spots underneath and honey-colored mushrooms will grow in clumps at its base. Water stressed trees are susceptible to armillara root rot, so always provide enough water to the maple during periods of drought. No chemicals are available to control or cure this fungal disease. However, you can stop it from spreading by removing and destroying all infected parts of the tree. Be sure to sterilize the cutting tool after each cut.
Bacterial Wetwood
Also called slime flux, bacterial wetwood is a disease that causes yellowish-brown wood discoloration and foul-smelling slime to ooze out of the bark. The slime can be clear or white and frothy. When the slime dries, it leaves a white or grayish crust on the bark of the maple tree. Sap beetles and flies are a few insects that will feed on the slime, but thankfully, they are not known to spread the bacteria. The bacterium that causes slime flux enters through root and branch wounds. Wetwood infections can be controlled by opening wounds to prevent liquid from building up under the bark. Another option is to drill a hole in the bark and insert a tube to drain the excess liquid and decrease the pressure.
Pests
Several species of annoying insects can appear as white spots on the bark of maple trees. As winter nears, the female maple mealybugs will crawl into crevices in the bark and create a white casing that protects them during the winter. These white casings can be seen in the bark of the maple tree. Cottony maple scale form egg masses in early summer that are covered in a protective wax covering that looks like spots of white cotton. Dormant horticultural oil applied in early spring will help control mealybugs and scale. Some species of maples, such as sugar maples, can be more sensitive to oils so care must be taken when applying the insecticide.
References (1)About the Author
Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College.
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Flanigan, Amanda. 'Maple Tree Diseases With White Spots on the Bark.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/maple-tree-diseases-white-spots-bark-51963.html. 09 December 2018.
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Maple trees (Acer spp.) enhance yards and landscapes with their grand stature and bright colors, and more than 100 species and varieties live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Maples are deciduous trees that have brightly colored fall foliage. They are susceptible to a number of diseases, infections and other conditions. Some fungal infections damage branches, limbs and roots but others may ultimately kill the tree.
Cankers
Cankers are sores that invade weakened bark and limb tissue. The fungi (Phytophthora cactorum) create yellow or reddish-brown lesions in the trunk and branches. Sap trickles from sunken bark, causing maple leaves to wilt and limbs to die. Cankers are not always easy to see, says the University of California Extension, but they can kill the entire tree. Discard canker-infected trees and fumigate the soil before planting anything new in the location.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose commonly affects deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. Also known as twig blight and leaf shoot, anthracnose stems from various fungi, including Discula fraxinea and Stegophora ulmea. The fungal spores spread through traveling water and rainfall. Tree leaves and twigs develop tiny black or brown spots. Disposing of infected leaves and maple tree debris may help control anthracnose for the following season, but the fungal disease cannot be effectively managed once spots appear on currently growing foliage. Prune infected tree twigs and branches during the maple tree’s dormancy.
Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium wilt (Verticillium spp.) affects the tree’s vascular system. Fungi cause maple leaves to turn faded green, yellow and brown. Foliage and branches wilt, usually on one side of the tree. Verticillium wilt typically occurs in midsummer or after periods of hot, dry weather. When fungus enters the tree’s root system, it restricts nutrients, effectively choking the plant. Trees, depending on their age and overall health, may die slowly or rapidly. Symptoms of verticillium wilt include smaller-than-normal leaves, browning of leaf edges, high seed production and streaked, discolored wood under the bark. There is no cure for the disease, but pruning sick maple tree limbs helps keep predator pests from creating further damage.
Girdled Roots and Root Rot
Girdling occurs when maple roots twist around larger roots, preventing water and nutrients form absorbing into the tree. Girdling root symptoms are similar to verticillium wilt: small leaf growth, browning leaf borders and dying limbs. To alleviate girdling, trim the strangling roots and treat open wounds with tree paint. Cover roots with soil and apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Root rots such as Fomes, Ganoderma and Laetiporus are caused by various kinds of fungi. Spores group into fruiting structures that then settle into the wood. Ganoderma (G. lucidium) and Fomes (F. fomentarius) root rot can kill branches and entire trees. Trees weakened by Laetiporus (L. sulfurous) are prone to wind damage.
Leaf Spots, Galls and Mildew
Like many deciduous trees, maple limbs are susceptible to molds and spots. Leaf spot (Phyllosticta minima) are about 1/4 inch round. They have bright purple borders and tiny fungal spores in the center. Leaf spots control is similar to control of anthracnose: Prune dead twigs, destroy fallen leaves and aerate the soil for the new growing season. Chemicals such as mancozeb and thiophanate methyl may control this fungus. Tiny insects -- mites -- cause leaf galls on the undersides of leaves. Although leaves blister somewhat, mite damage will not harm the tree. Powdery mildew (Phyllactinia) is a white fungus that develops on leaf surfaces in late summer and fall.
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Teri Silver began a career in 1984 as a news, sports and feature writer/reporter, anchor, editor, producer and program host for central Ohio radio and television stations. She has done work for stations including WTVN, WMNI and WOSU (NPR). Silver has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with an English minor from The Ohio State University.
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Silver, Teri. 'Common Diseases of Maple Tree Limbs.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/common-diseases-maple-tree-limbs-46469.html. Accessed 04 July 2019.
Silver, Teri. (n.d.). Common Diseases of Maple Tree Limbs. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/common-diseases-maple-tree-limbs-46469.html
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