Kitchen Garden Forum

I have been given a maple tree. I know nothing about them, except quite like maple syrup! Can anyone give me any useful information about it. My main concerns are: How close to house can I plant, how tall & bushy is it likley to get as I already have too much shade in garden really!

It is already about 7ft tall.

What sort of maple tree is it? Have just done a search on "maple tree" and the first site starts with the warning:-

Note: There are thousands of species of maple trees in the world.

If you want to check it

http://www.massmaple.org/treeID.html

If it's a British Field Maple, look at:-

http://www.british-trees.com/guide/fieldmaple.htm

If you want maple syrup, you need the right species

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup

Alan

Dear RBC,
if it is a real sugar maple Acer saccharinum then it is not at all suitable for a domestic garden. It will get to around 100ft high when mature (and needs to be planted that far from buildings and your neighbours!) and is capable of putting on about 2ft a year. In just a few years you will not have a garden; just a plot with a tree in it. Acers are hard to prune back nicely to an acceptable size once they get too big.

Another point is that once it gets big enough it may be covered by a tree protection order and then you are stuck with it.

Just thought you needed to know what you are letting yourself in for if you do plant it.

Regards Sally Wright.

Oh dear, thank you both for your helpful replies. I did not bother to search the web, came to kg forum 1st, as the best advice seems to come form here! Think I will pass it on.

Sally, thanks that is pretty much what I was worried about.

Anbody want a Maple Tree!!!!????

I think I will offer it to the National Trust, Theyve got big gardens!