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Ask the tree experts
I have an enormous sugar maple in my yard, here in South Dakota. This year it is shedding those brown seeds ( helicopter looking ). I have lived here for 8 years, and really never paid attention, but this year they are falling like snow, and coating my lawn, garden and flowers. I can only get about 50% of them when I mow with the bagger. It has been very windy the past couple of weeks, but I'm sure it's been windy before. It is an unbelievable amount of seedlings. Thanks for your time. Kathy
Kathy,
The minimum seed-bearing age for sugar maples is about 30 years. Once this age is reached some seed is produced every year, but massive quantities of viable seed are produced cyclically. This cycle is usually 2 to 5 year intervals depending on your climate. During these good seed years the maple is loaded with flowers (both male and female), which gives them a yellowish cast when seen from a distance. The wings provide the seeds with the ability to spread over considerable distances by the wind. Chances are your sugar maple is experiencing one of these "good" years, which is great for your tree but bad when trying to clean up your yard! Hope this helps and please let us know if you have anymore questions.
The minimum seed-bearing age for sugar maples is about 30 years. Once this age is reached some seed is produced every year, but massive quantities of viable seed are produced cyclically. This cycle is usually 2 to 5 year intervals depending on your climate. During these good seed years the maple is loaded with flowers (both male and female), which gives them a yellowish cast when seen from a distance. The wings provide the seeds with the ability to spread over considerable distances by the wind. Chances are your sugar maple is experiencing one of these "good" years, which is great for your tree but bad when trying to clean up your yard! Hope this helps and please let us know if you have anymore questions.
