How does maple care for us?
Maple’s sap boiled down makes a sweet syrup that we all love on our pancakes. Maple’s sap is her lifeblood. It moves water, sugars, and nutrients through the tree for its sustenance and so much more. Sap begins in the late spring when the alchemical process of photosynthesis absorbs CO2 to make a simple sugar, then converted to starch and stored within the tree. These sugars become cellulose, roots, fruits, bark, and all that maple’s body is comprised of. During the winter maple rests and protects herself from the cold. As temperatures start to rise during the day in late winter, she converts the starches back into sucrose, giving her the sugar rush she needs to wake herself from her winter slumber and start growing new leaves. This is the sweet sap humans tap for syrup. This is a story of nourishment, life cycles, sweetness, and energy. Maple’s sweetness is generous and life giving.
How to care for maple?
Water:Water your new maple deeply once a week for the first two years. Provide deep soaks during hot, dry weather.
Mulch: Spread a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch (like wood chips or pine bark) around your maple tree.
Prune: Prune maple trees in late winter or early spring before new leaves grow. This helps the tree heal faster and stops heavy sap leaks.
Light: Maples like full sun to partial shade. Full sun helps them grow well and ensures bright leaf colors.
Soil: They need rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.0 and 7.0. Avoid very salty or highly alkaline (basic) soils.