Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

  • 0

Advice about Acer saccharinum laciniatum


StephanieFreeman
 Share

Question

Hi I wonder if anyone can assist. I have a new housing development being built next to me and in the planning application which i can comment on they have said they are planting an Acer saccharinum laciniatum 425-600cm 14-16cm Extra Heavy Standard. This is being planted within 1m of my concrete retaining wall, approx 4 meters from my house and 3 metres from my drainage system.

 

Am I correct in thinking this tree grows fast to over 20m in width and height and can be a problem if planted close to sewers, houses, concrete structures etc

Any advice would be helpful in terms of how far from houses, retaining walls  etc these trees should be planted

Edited by StephanieFreeman
need more info
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

Log in or register to remove this advert

  • 0

Any Acer in the overstory category.  ie: Sugar, Norway, Silver  should never be planted withing 3 meters of any structure,

retaining wall, supply pipes etc.

 

The root mass of these trees are quite enormous. Buttress roots will grow laterally down angled in most instances.

Consider the canopy can easily reach more than 33 meters wide and root length can exceed 100meters.

 

The catch here is that the new hybrids do not carry all traits of the source. BUT, this is a BIG "but". There can be a reversion

to natural traits in some specimens..... Ex:  15yrs ago a Columnar Sugar Maple was marketed as an understory (less than 10-12 meters height.) I went to see one the other day...... currently just under 18 meters and insanely dense canopy, less than 2% visible sky.

 

I'm extremely leery of anything derived from the Acer Saccharinum (silver maple) strain. These trees easily

hybridize naturally. I've seen at least 8 variations of trees over 80yrs old...... all are massive, fast growing, invasive roots,

carpenter ant favorite, fragile grained,  susceptible to verticillium wilt and prone to co-dominance  trees out there.  Fine in a forest but not near a home.

I believe they are genetically poorer than the more dense fiber maples and more susceptible to problems.

 

So be vary wary.........personally, I'd replace it while I could.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
4 minutes ago, Oddjobz said:

I believe they are genetically poorer than the more dense fiber maples and more susceptible to problems.

I'd agree with that purely from my experience climbing them. They certainly feel more fragile to climb around in, and often have old wounds where they have shed large limbs.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Well,

I found variant "Laciniatum Wieri" here are the key points that immediately steers me clear of this for residential purposes.

 

 

Height:
20 m, fast growing
Crown:
round to broad fan-shaped, half-open crown, capricious growing
Application:
avenues and broad streets, parks, squares, cemeteries, industrial areas, large gardens
Shape:
clearstem tree, multi-stem tree
 
 
 
Anyways, it could be worse, they could have offered an eastern poplar or a weeping willow..... 🙂
 
PS: The 3 most dangerous trees for septics and underground watering/supply systems due
to the extremely aggressive nature of the root systems. 
1) Eastern Poplar
2) Weeping willow
3) Silver maple 
All can grow extensive root systems up to 100meters....far wider than the drip line.
(the order above is debatable, but all three are nasty)
 
Edited by Oddjobz
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Oddly enough I ran into one today. The idea of these trees were that they were to be understory

and narrow enough that they would grow beside overhead wires without needing extensive maintenance.

 

As you can see on the left side of the tree, it is losing its cultivar's form and is reverting to natural.

The large laterals are prime candidates for breakage, as this one is experiencing. One dead limb

already exists in the naturalized area of growth.......on the back rear two leaders have also broken from

the design and are poking diagonally out from the canopy.  So much for cultivars efforts with maples.

They don't seem to want to behave........Often in these trees we'll see schoolmarms. 

(Lateral scaffolds that decide to go vertical and try to assume the "terminal role" or "dominant leader" if you prefer)

 

 

 

 

IMG_1308.thumb.JPG.acf0fee05cd835114a20002cf0604550.JPGBTW,  most of these are hybrids of Sugar and Norway maples. Many cultivars exist, few have had over 50% success as far as I've seen......along a highway, not a problem, next to a house or power line......problem.😒

 

Edited by Oddjobz
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
2 hours ago, averagearborist said:

This does not seem like an appropriate species in an appropriate place. It would not be viable long term because of the size and spread and how this would encroach on the surrounding building and features. Perhaps an oversite by the planners.

This is a common occurrence in our region. We have an overabundance of overhead KV lines throughout the province.

Hydro Quebec policy is "above ground" ..... in opposition to the standards everywhere else in North America and most parts of Europe. 

 

It make Horticultural planning a real pain for homeowners, landscapers and municipalities.

Especially when cultivars come along with a tree typically an overstory, claim its now and understory with

confined canopy spread ......... and it fails to meet the design criteria. Cultivars aren't perfect.....Nature defies rules.

 

Imagine that behind that maple are two Ash trees......both have been treated for Emerald Ash borer at some expense.

We should question "why" treat when they should be removed and replaced immediately since they don't belong

under 3 phase KV lines to begin with. Duh.

 

So back to the the original question.......As one poster said " Just say no" .

Consider:  Soil (wet, dry, alkali or acidic)

Do you want:  Tall slender, Tall wide, Short wide, Short compact. 

Type: Deciduous or conifer  (do you want to go barefoot around the tree, soft needle confer)

Do you like to rake leaves?  Large leaf (rake or mulch) or small leaf (dissolves into the soil)

 

All trees have their plus and minuses.....

Good idea to ask an arborist .....we deal with these things daily..

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.