SUGAR MAPLE LEAF BUD PLUS

Among these are hard maple, rock maple, and bird’s eye maple. The sugar maple has several common names, depending on what part of the country you live in. In fact, absent some outside disturbance (like fire) most of our forests would likely convert to sugar maple-dominant forests, though this would take many, many years. This refers to the fact that the only species that can reproduce under these low-light conditions are sugar maples themselves. In a landscape setting it is often difficult to grow turf grass under mature sugar maples due to this shading effect.īecause of this dense shade, these forests are known as climax forests. This creates the potential for significant soil erosion in some areas. Add exotic earthworms to the mix and you have a forest floor that is often devoid of vegetation and leaf litter for much of the year. On the negative side, most desirable species cannot grow there either.

SUGAR MAPLE LEAF BUD PLUS

On the plus side, most undesirable species, such as buckthorn and other non-native shrubs, cannot grow under these low-light conditions. This characteristic is both good and bad. The sugar maple forests of today are known for their dense shade and open, almost nonexistent, understory. If you are considering planting one, however, know that they are not at all tolerant of salt, and do not like soil compaction or hot, dry areas. Sugar maple is a very shade-tolerant tree and a terrific shade producer. In addition to being a major forest component, sugar maples can be found in every active use/picnic area within the Park District due to the significant amount of shade they provide. This means that all of the reforestation efforts within these parks will resemble the vegetation you would have found within the Big Woods at the time of European settlement (circa 1850). Lake Rebecca Park Reserve and Baker Park Reserve are the primary Big Woods parks in Three Rivers. The name refers to a forest with tall, cathedral-like trees and an understory that is easy to navigate compared to the more densely vegetated understory of oak forests. The term Big Woods was the name that French explorers gave the forests of this area after they encountered it for the first time. Much of the Park District sits within the historic “Big Woods” forest range. Sugar maples are major components of Maple-Basswood forests, one of two major native forest types we have here at Three Rivers Park District (the other being Oak-Aspen-Hickory). Canada likes this tree so much that it put it on its national flag! They are so well-liked that there are at least 11 different selections, or cultivars, of this species available at most nurseries. They are fan favorites in the fall, thanks to their often bright hues, as well as in the spring, thanks to maple syruping. Sugar maples are some of the most well-known native trees around the Twin Cities.

Sugar maple leaf bud