Silver Maple Sapling Trees

Acer saccharinum Bareroot Trees

Delivered by Mail Order Direct from our Nursery with a Year Guarantee

Acer saccharinum, is a large tree with graceful, arching branches. Suitable for any large garden or park with moist soil.

Silver Maple is not suitable for a clipped hedge.
It can be grown as a screening tree up to about 30 metres high. It is a good, tall windbreak tree.
The plants on this page are young saplings. You can also buy larger Silver Maple trees here.

See our full range of hedging options.

Silver Maple saplings are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March).
All of our young trees and shrubs are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).

General description:

The Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is a large, fast-growing, deciduous tree that loves wet sites beside rivers, streams or in low lying, boggy areas.
Silver Maple leaves are silvery grey on the underside and look good as they flutter in a breeze. Acer saccharinum leaves also changes to a beautiful golden yellow for an attractive autumn colour.

History & uses

Not to be confused with the Canadian sugar maple (Acer saccharum), which does not perform well in the UK.
Acer saccharinum leaves also changes to a beautiful golden yellow for an attractive autumn colour.

Notes on planting Silver Maple:
This tree loves wet soil, especially sandy, rocky sites beside a river or lake. It is suitable for very exposed sites but it won't grow close to the coast. It is tolerant of urban pollution.
This tree is not suitable for dry, poor soil and we don't recommend it for chalk.
Silver maple has invasive roots that can attack old pipes or foundations - 40 metres is a safe distance.

Prepare your site before planting:
It is good to dig over the area where you intend to plant several months in advance. Destroy the weeds first: nettles, brambles and ground elder are tough and Neudorff WeedFree Plus weed-killer is the best way to remove them. Then dig the soil over; remove rocks, roots and other rubbish. Mix in well rotted compost or manure down to the depth of about 2 spades.
If you have a heavy clay soil, it might be too difficult to dig over for most of the year. Heavy clay is fertile soil, so you don't really need to improve it; killing the weeds is still necessary.

Remember to water establishing plants during dry weather for at least a year after planting.

Planting accessories:
Prepare your site for planting by killing the weeds and grass with Neudorff WeedFree Plus.
If you are planting in an area with rabbit and/or deer, you will need to use a protective plastic spiral for each plant, supported by a bamboo cane.
If your soil quality is poor, we recommend using mycorrhizal "friendly fungi" on the roots of new trees and shrubs.
You can also improve your soil with bonemeal organic fertiliser and Growmore.

After you plant your Silver Maple trees / shrubs / bushes / plants, the most important thing to do is water them in dry weather. You will also need to weed around the plants. Both of these will be necessary for at least a year after planting.
Water thoroughly but not too often: let the soil get close to drying out before watering your plants again.

Special notes on caring for Silver Maple:
Silver Maple is a very tough plant that shouldn't need special attention once it has established. If pruning is necessary, it is best do it in winter. Always hire a tree surgeon to remove large branches.

Hygiene & Diseases:
Dead, damaged or diseased wood can be pruned off as soon as it appears.
Disinfect your pruning tools between every cut if there is any sign of disease.
Burn or dispose of any diseased material, do not compost it.