Q&A for How to Germinate Maple Tree Seeds

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When seeds drop in autumn, are they viable?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

In some cases. Many species' seeds will need to be stratified before germination.

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I have purchased American maple bonsai seeds. Which type of soil mixture is good, and can I use a coco peat vermiculite perlite mixture?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Yes you can. Use a standard potting mixture for growing your American Maple.

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Question

My sugar maples drop seeds in the spring where I live. They aren't seeds that have been retained in the fall and winter. They are new seeds. This might be due to a mutation in the sugar maple DNA. So I plant them right away if I can feel the seed inside. Is there anything wrong with doing this?

Community Answer

No. If they drop in early spring, this means that they have naturally adapted to the seasonal cycle and temperatures that are best suited for their growth. Species are diverse, it may not be genetically modified. Sometimes introducing alien species to an area can cause temperately odd periods of growth. I suggest experimenting with soaking for 24 hours before planting, sticking it in directly, stratifying for 2-4 weeks and germinating in napkins.

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Question

If I have many maple, pine and spruce trees in a mostly undisturbed wooded area, why have no trees been generated in over 30 years?

Community Answer

Sometimes due to the rigidity and dryness of the soils, seeds are unable to germinate in the right environments due to the quick set off of wind and or animals. Global Warming is causing soils to dry up and harden, therefore increasing seed vulnerability. Animals like squirrels love to feed off of the pine seeds thus leaving only few to grow.

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I have a sunset maple seedling that is approximately seven inches tall and has several leaves on it. What do I need to do to get it to branch out and when do I do it?

Community Answer

By leaving lower leaves and removing the top grow bud, the energy the top grow bud misses out on is dispersed to all lower buds. Another way to increase branching is to trim one-third to one-half of the leaf size. These are bonsai techniques. Leaf division works well for both branching and bushing up a tree.

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Question

If I plant seeds the drop in late spring or early summer in pots, do I just leave them outside in the winter months? I live in the northern part of Michigan.

Community Answer

I recommend bringing them inside in winter for the first year. I bring all mine inside their first year, but I live in Alaska where temps regularly hover around -20 for most of January. Depending on when I germinated and how cold-hardy the species is, I move them to an outdoor greenhouse and cover them with straw and hope temps are still below freezing.

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Question

I have found a seed in early spring and planted it in a clear plastic cup about a 1/3 inch deep. I water it twice daily and leave it in a sunny window. Is it likely to grow?

Community Answer

Yes, it should grow. It is a good spot and should grow in 2 - 6 weeks or so.

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How many seeds should I plant? I have only gotten 2 sugar maples to survive past a year in a large pot and that is after planting 2 seeds.

Community Answer

You should plant 2 - 4 seeds in 1 pot. Make sure to keep the soil damp for about a year. If you notice you are giving the tree to much or not enough water make sure to change amounts. Also do some research on growing maples.

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I found some seeds today, I live in Scotland, how should I try to germinate them?

LGM

Community Answer

Put them in a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag make sure that it's closed tightly as to not let air in, which can cause mold to grow. Change the paper towel every few days or so until it germinates, then place the seed with a root in the soil. You now have a maple tree!

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