SUGAR MAPLES

            The Sugar Maple grows naturally in one place on this planet. It only grows in a heart shaped spit of land that goes from part of Minnesota to the west, through Maine to the east, and south into Tennessee a bit; we are smack dab in the middle.

            It is a slow growing tree, one that you will plant as teenager in order for your grandkids to climb. It can reach heights of 75 to 100 feet, with a good 50 feet in width; so make sure you plant it 30 to 40 feet from the house.

            The fall color is orangish red, and starts turning after the Red Maples’ zenith. Twirlers (seeds) drop in the fall as well.

           The root systems of these gargantuans are a mirror image of what’s on top; the height and spread of what you see, matches the root’s depth and spread. (another reason to plant it 30 to 40 feet from the house.

            Their biggest prize is the sap they produce; and from it we get Maple Syrup.

            All deciduous trees produce a sweet sap in the spring between 2 and 4 percent sugar content. The Sugar Maple’s sugar content is in the 6% range, making it more economical to boil down to the pancake slathering confection we’ve all come to know and love.

            You need to boil down 40 gallons of sap to get one gallon of syrup; other trees like Birch, the next highest sugar sap count, needs 60 gallons to make one of syrup.

            If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at NiemeyerLandscaping@Gmail.com or post a comment on this Blog. And like us on Facebook at Niemeyer Landscaping. For more Landscape and garden info check us out at www.NiemeyerLandscaping.com