A few weeks ago, Ken Jewett, founder of Maple Leaves Forever, was invited to visit with a landowner who had recently planted more than thirty native Sugar Maple trees on his property in Mulmur Township, close to Ken’s farm.
Jamie (the landowner) met Ken at the road entrance to his property and proceeded to show him the trees that had been carefully planted along both sides of the lane way that led to the residence, partially hidden beyond the crest of the lane way by larger blue spruce and fir trees.
The sugar maples showed very good tree form. Each tree was 250 – 275 cm (8 – 9 ft) tall, had a sturdy trunk and several branches including a central leader – the beginnings of a crown. They had been grown and supplied by Winkelmolen Nursery, a well respected nursery recommended by Maple Leaves Forever. The nursery worked with Jamie to ensure the trees were well cared for during their delivery to Jamie’s farm.
Jamie gave Ken the details of his tree planting venture. He started be saying that after he finalized arrangements for the purchase of the trees, he contracted a landscape firm he was familiar with, to plant the trees. He provided them with a plan for the tree planting.
The contractor was on site when the trees arrived. The maples were spaced 10 meters (30 ft) apart along the lane way and set back from the edge of the laneway 5 meters (15 ft), allowing room for their future growth. The trees were watered during the planting process and again after the planting. Jamie added that the trees will be watered regularly through the current growing season to reduce stress and to encourage tree growth.
A generous layer of wood fiber mulch was placed around each tree with a small area close to the trunk left un-mulched to allow this part of the soil surface to breath, allow rainfall to infiltrate and to help with watering of the trees. Metal “T” bars and support wires help keep the trees upright when stronger winds prevail. The contractor supplied the mulch and tree stakes.
Ken was pleased to see the quality of the sugar maple trees that is available to landowners and the care and attention provided by the contractor while planting the trees. He thanked Jamie for the opportunity to see a tree planting job that was done right.
Jamie has made a significant investment with the purchase and planting of these maples. With reasonable care and diligence during the rest of 2016 and next year, his plans for a maple lined laneway maples should get off to a good start.