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All About Maples

Sweet Spring – Maple tapping and syrup production

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 1, 2021

A Spring Message from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

Maple tapping

This spring’s cooler start is keeping maple syrup flowing through sugar bushes and keeping producers across Ontario happy.  The colder nights and warmer days have created the perfect conditions for making maple syrup – welcome news following last spring’s unusually warm temperatures, which impacted overall production.  

This time of year is known as Ziinsibaakwadoke Giizis, or the Syrup Moon, when sap begins to flow from the trees.  Maple syrup has been cherished by Indigenous peoples for centuries and was one of many gifts shared with early settlers.

Today, Canada makes over 75% of the world production with more than 8,600 producers of maple syrup across the country.  So it is hardly surprising that we have come to know maple syrup as something uniquely Canadian.  There are a lot of imposters in your grocery aisle, but there’s only one that you can turn over and see just one ingredient – that pure, delicious maple flavour, that tastes better and comes with a bonus of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds.  That is what really sets it apart from the imposters!

A few facts about maple syrup making:

  • Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the most commonly used native maple.  It has the highest sugar content and longest sugaring season
  • Sugaring season typically runs from March through April, with an average of 20 days over a 6-week season
  • 40 litres of sap is required to make 1 litre of syrup
  • Each tapped sugar maple tree can produce about 1 litre syrup
  • Bumper sap years depend on the growing season of the previous summer to store as much carbohydrates as possible
  • Cold nights and warm days are critical to get sap flowing
  • Maple syrup season ends when the buds on the branches begin to swell.  After this the sap will begin to have a bitter aftertaste.

Canada has a syrup grading system which is based on colour, not quality, or more specifically, the amount of light transmission.  In general, the lighter the colour, the more delicate the maple flavour, but flavour may also vary by growing region, because of factors such as tree genetics, weather conditions, and processing techniques.  My favourite grade is Amber – we like maple syrup with a bit more intense ‘maple’ flavour.

With many of us staying closer to home these days, and venturing into local food production (gardens, chickens etc.) there has also been a increased interest in trying out maple syrup making on a small scale. If you have access to a few mature sugar maples, there is a lot of guidance on how to tap trees,  the size and number of taps. 

Our family tapped 4 sugar maple trees this spring and are producing our own home grown syrup.  It is very labour intensive but hugely rewarding. 

Maple syrup time is also a time when many Canadians plan to visit a sugar to home to see how it is done commercially or for education purposes.  Unfortunately, many tours are cancelled this spring, but you can find more information here.  todoontario.com/maple-festivals/

For more information please see the following links:

  • OntarioMaple.com
  • How to identify and properly tap a maple tree (OntarioMaple.com)
  • A beginners guide to creating maple syrup (OntarioMaple.com)
  • How sugar maple trees work (Massachusetts Maple Producers Association)
  • About Canadian Maple Syrup – from Agriculture and Agrifood Canada [PDF]

Happy Sweet Spring!

Deb Pella Keen and the MLF Team

All About Maples News

Gypsy Moth Update – Informative Webinar and Collecting Egg Masses Contest

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 October 14, 2020

This year has seen a rise in the number of Gypsy Moths and caterpillars, which affect native maple trees as well as other species. In areas with severe outbreaks, “trees and shrubs are completely defoliated over large areas; despite the trees’ ability to produce a new crop of leaves over the summer, the damage causes significant growth loss” (https://www.ontario.ca/page/gypsy-moth)

One effective way to reduce the spread of this invasive pest is to collect and destroy their egg masses before they hatch.

The Invasive Species Centre and Eastern Ontario Model Forest are currently running a contest to encourage residents to remove EGM egg masses from their trees. They hope to limit the spread of the destructive caterpillars and moths by working together to collect 500 or more egg masses across Ontario. There are even prizes being offered as incentive to collect as many as possible!

Find out more and enter the contest here: www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/take-action/edrr-network/european-gypsy-moth-egg-scraping-contest/

Learn more about the European Gypsy Moth and how to manage this pest by watching this webinar:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A70AoBORNQ4

All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Fall colour driving tours in Ontario

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 September 25, 2020

Native Maples – the Monarchs of Colour!

Are you a ‘leaf peeper’ (vs. royal watcher?)   If you drive many kilometres to witness the magnificent fall foliage displays in Southern Ontario, you can be proud to be a leaf peeper! 

Driving tours are a great way to spend a fall day appreciating the landscape of Southern Ontario when it is ablaze in magnificent colour.  

Different types of native maples display varying colours of yellow, red, orange and burgundy colours in the fall.  The colour of an individual tree can sometimes vary from year to year. Factors such as location, weather, and genetics also play a role in timing and colour intensity.  Colour is generally better when trees are healthy and not stressed by drought or pests.  

While it is difficult to predict when colours will peak, Ontario Parks has a nifty fall colour report that might help you plan your trip to various parts of the province:

www.ontarioparks.com/fallcolour

For suggestions on driving tours, check out the following links! Please be sure to post your photos on social media and tag #canadianmaples or #mapleleavesforever so we can share them!

www.wheels.ca/top-ten/10-best-fall-drives-in-ontario/

www.ontariotravel.net/en/play/tours/fall-colour-and-harvest-tours

www.discovermuskoka.ca/things-to-do/driving-tours/

All About Maples News

Caterpillar and Moth pests – update Summer 2020

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 30, 2020

This article is a follow up to Carl Mansfield, tree consultant for MLF farm visit on September 7, 2019.  On June 22, 2020,  Deb Pella Keen, Executive Director, MLF visited the MLF farm with Ken Jewett, founder of MLF.   We again observed the Lymantria dispar dispar (also known as gypsy moth) larvae feeding on several trees, and one unusual host tree, a larch.   Digging in the internet we found some interesting information on gypsy moths.  There are now two known species of gypsy moth invaders in North America: the European Gypsy Moth (EGM; Lymantria dispar dispar) introduced to Canada over 130 years ago and now the Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM; Lymantria dispar asiatica) which while not known to be established in Canada, was first recorded in 1991 in North American at the port in Vancouver, BC according to the US Department of Agriculture (see PDF).

Although in many ways similar to the EGM, the discovery of the Asian gypsy moth strain (AGM) in Canada has raised new concerns. According to Health Canada, the Asian gypsy moth prefers coniferous trees, is better adapted to colder climates, and the female is able to fly longer distances. These traits make the Asian gypsy moth a serious threat to Canadian forests.

The spread of the gypsy moth has been largely attributed to the movement of firewood, as well as outdoor recreational and household articles.  Knowing how to detect, report and manage gypsy moth could significantly reduce and limit the spread of gypsy moth to new areas.  So if you find gypsy moth larvae (caterpillars) this summer, do your part for citizen science and download this app (EDDMapS Ontario) and report your finding. 

EDDMapS is a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species and pest distribution. It was developed by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia, and since its launch in 2005 has now expanded to include the entire US and Canada. As of June 2020, EDDMapS had over 4.9 million records.

We did our part in reporting our finding of a gypsy moth larvae at the MLF farm and while it is highly unlikely (we certainly hope!) that the gypsy moth we found was an AGM, it is important that we all learn more about these destructive invasive species.

For more information on gypsy moth in Canada and how you can control and prevent the spread of the gypsy moth see these links:

  • forestinvasives.ca/Meet-the-Species/Insects/European-Gypsy-Moth
  • www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/gypsy-moths.html

All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Fall-Winter tree care PSA – protect from animal damage

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 October 22, 2019

In the later fall and winter, when other food sources are scarce, voles, mice and rabbits eat the bark and underlying tissue of young trees. Voles frequently girdle a tree by removing a continuous strip of bark and cambium around the circumference of the tree, usually within 30 cm of the base of the tree. Trees do not recover from this girdling and usually die during the following year.

Some commercially available repellents used by fruit growers can effectively  discourage voles, rabbits and deer from feeding on trees. SKOOT and other brand name repellents contain Thiram, a distasteful but harmless fungicide that discourages animals from taking a second bite. With a paint-like consistency, the repellent can be painted onto the tree’s bark from below the original soil line to a height of 150-175 cm to discourage deer browsing, and feeding by rabbits and voles.

Before applying the fungicide, the bark mulch and a few centimetres of soil is removed from the base of the tree to allow the property manager to paint the trunk of the tree from below soil level to a height of 150-175 cm with the repellent to discourage feeding by voles, rabbits and deer.

Ensure complete coverage when applying the repellent and follow the  package directions.

Where there is a known threat of vole and rabbit damage, a galvanized hardware cloth cylinder with a 6-8 mm square mesh can be set in place around the base of the tree and buried to a depth of 5 cm into the soil.

The soil and mulch is then returned to its original form and depth, covering a few cm of the painted trunk at the base of the tree before three 15-20 cm wire staples are used to fix the cylinder in place, centrally around the trunk of the tree. Short pieces of poly-coated wire secure the cylinder to a 125 cm stake, driven at least 25 cm into the soil.

Individual Tree Wraps and Tree Guards may be more effective where vole and rabbit damage is concerned, in areas where there is a low deer population and minimal risk deer browsing.

Rabbits and voles gnaw the bark of young trees, consuming the outer and inner bark, exposing the inner wood. If the chewing extends more than half way around the trunk, the tree may not survive.

Protect the tree by wrapping a soft, flexible plastic tree wrap around the trunk. Starting at the bottom, bury at least 5 cm of the wrap below soil line and work your way upward. Be sure to wrap beyond the typical snow line. Remove the wrap in the spring.

In areas where deer may be a problem from browsing or rubbing their antlers against the tree trunk, use a tree guard 100-125 cm in length.

Tree guards also offer some protection from winter sunscald

Many different tree wraps and protectors are available from garden centers and farm supply outlets. A flexible plastic tree wrap is shown above on the left. A ventilated, corrugated tree guard is shown on its right.  We used both of these tree protectors to protect the native maples that were planted recently. Both installations include the use of a hardware cloth cylinder supported by a sturdy stake.

More information available at:

Protecting Trees from Animal Damage: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/science-and-innovation/agricultural-practices/agroforestry/diseases-and-pests/protecting-trees-from-animal-damage/?id=1198877618448

All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Watering our young maples – Tree care on the MLF farm Part 2

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 September 7, 2019

Newly planted trees (those planted within the past three years) require regular watering and care throughout the annual growing season. The first few years are the most critical to their long term survival and growth.

A 200-250 cm sugar maple sapling that was planted as a bare root tree in mid-May 2018. Note the hardwood mulch placed around the base of tree and the tree-watering bag set in place. The bag capacity is 65-70L when full with a draining time of  6-8 hours, but the bag content can be reduced when used for watering smaller sized trees.

Deep watering to a depth of 30-40 cm keeps the tree’s root zone moist (but not wet) and encourages rapid root regeneration that is essential to the tree’s reestablishment in its new environment.

MLF’s woodlot manager, Mike Fisher has been watering the 200-250 cm sugar maple saplings regularly, partially filling the tree-watering-bags with  40-45 L of water weekly. The trees were watered more frequently during the hot dry weather we experienced in June and July. The water soaks into the soil over a period of 4-6 hours, saturating the tree’s root zone.

It’s a year later and the sapling has grown to 20-25 mm stem caliper. The tree-watering-bag is in place, wrapped around the base of the tree and partially filled with water (40-45 L).

Note: This particular tree was planted in a more exposed location and required a stake to keep it upright while it grew new roots to support the tree. The stake will be removed in spring 2020 if the tree is well “anchored”.

On well-drained soils, 40-45 L per 25 mm of stem diameter/week should be enough water. Don’t overfill the bag as too much water can damage the roots by keeping the soil too wet. Water the trees every 4-5 days during hot, dry, drought-like conditions. 

An economical alternative to tree watering bags – a 20 L bucket with two small holes drilled into the bottom
 Alter the location of the bucket placement relative to the tree trunk by 90 degrees each time you water.
Alter the location of the bucket placement relative to the tree trunk by 90 degrees each time you water.

Above: You can also use a DIY tree-watering-bucket,  an economical alternative to the commercial tree-watering-bag that is shown in the background. Capacity of 20 L. Fill twice to provide the 40-45 L required for each watering. Alter the location of the bucket placement relative to the tree trunk by 90 degrees as you water the sapling during the growing season, to encourage uniform root development around the tree. The duct tape flap covers the “fill hole”, preventing small birds from entering the bucket to get a drink.

The consequences of failing to adequately water recently planted maples – drought stressed leaves as the tree slowly dies.

Year four and after:  you can relax a bit on tree watering in later years but be prepared to water during long periods of drought.

All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Q&A – What are those white blotches on my tree?

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 August 22, 2019

Recently we had a question come to our mailbox about white spots on their trees’ bark.

MLF Tree Expert Carl Mansfield replied:

Your tree appears to have lichens growing on the outer bark.

Lichens are colourful crusts found growing on trees, rocks and other objects. They are often thought to be a pest or disease of trees and shrubs, but not so.

Lichens are non-parasitic plant-like organisms that pose no harm to the trees on which they grow. They use the outer bark of trees as a place to live and grow. They do not penetrate into the inner bark of trees and take no nourishment or water from the trees. 

A lichen consists of two different organisms engaged in a symbiotic relationship. One is a fungus, whose job it is to anchor the lichen to an object where it will grow. The other is a bluish-green algae that turns sunlight into food for the lichen. There are many kinds of lichens. They are spread by spores and tiny bits of lichen, blown on the wind.

Lichens aren’t often noticed until a tree appears to be unhealthy or dying; don’t blame the lichens. The only thing they’re killing is time.

  • Carl Mansfield, MLF’s Tree Expert
All About Maples Caring for your maple News Questions & Answers

Pruning young sugar maples – Tree care at the Maple Leaves Forever farm Part 3

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 August 16, 2019

It’s been almost two years since we planted some 175-200 cm sugar maple saplings on the Farm. An arborist will recommend  that you wait at least 2-3 years before attempting any pruning but we knew a few of these trees could use our help.

Most deciduous trees and shrubs should be pruned when they are dormant, preferably in the early spring just before growth starts. Maples are an exception to the dormant pruning rule and should be pruned when actively growing in mid-summer. When pruned in early-spring, maples ‘bleed’ excessive amounts of sap. Pruning should not be done too late in the fall either, as wounds will not have time to heal before winter.

Sugar maple sapling, 200-250 cm, shortly after it was planted mid-May 2018. Note uniform branching structure and single, dominant terminal shoot.

Without some guidance, young maples can start to branch out in the wrong direction. Newly planted trees soak up the sun, moisture and nutrients as they regenerate new roots to strengthen and nourish the tree. They often need help finding their way during their formative years.

It’s almost two years later and this young maple needs some pruning. Note the multiple leaders at the top of the tree and imbalance of new growth on the right side of the tree compared to the left. Selective pruning will correct these conditions as shown in the tree below.

We did some light pruning during a recent tree inspection. The goal was to encourage the tree’s leader to grow by trimming competing branches. We began by removing any dead (leafless) or damaged branches. These were few and far between. We prefer to use bypass shears when pruning.

A few trees had many strong branches but lacked a central guiding leader. For these trees, we selected the strongest central branch to be the new leader and shortened the remaining co-dominant branches. Where experienced suggested doing so, a few of the larger competing branches were completely removed as we pruned to reestablish a single, dominant leader. Any new branches that were found growing on the lower parts of the trunk were also removed.

If there were multiple leaders at the top of a tree, we selected the strongest, best of the group and either reduced the competing leaders by 1/3 their length or completely removed them (if doing so did not remove an excessive amount of leaves). 

We limited pruning of these young maples to what was essential and made a note to revisit these trees after the leaves fall in October.

Elsewhere on the farm, we pruned several 60-70 mm caliper trees by removing or shortening branches that had an irregular growth habit. We removed the parts of any branches that were growing toward the center of the tree’s crown or downwards in any fashion and removed the smaller of any branches that rubbed against one another.

We reduced the length of many of the lower branches that will not be part of the permanent canopy of the larger canopy trees. A few we removed completely. We will continue to do this selective pruning as the tree grows. This raises the tree’s canopy (crown) providing clearance under the tree.

Removal of a competing branch within the crown of a young caliper tree. We prefer to use bypass shears for our pruning work.

Removal of a competing branch within the crown of a young caliper tree. We prefer to use bypass shears for our pruning work.

We reduced the length of most of the lower branches that will not be part of the permanent canopy of these trees.  A few, we removed completely. We will continue to do this selective pruning annually as the trees grow, raising the canopy (crown) until there is at least 1.8- 2.1 m of clear trunk  under the canopy.

We did not apply any tree pruning paint or wound dressing to the cuts. Using these products hinder the maple’s natural heeling process.

  • Carl Mansfield, Arboreal Consultant, Maple Leaves Forever
All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Lesson Learned – Weed trimmers can kill trees

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 August 1, 2019

Last summer we visited a landowner who was concerned with the early-fall colour change several of the maples along his laneway displayed. Click here for related story.

  • Premature colour change indicated poor health for these maples.
  • Premature colour change indicated poor health for these maples.

Closer examination revealed that property maintenance staff had severely damaged the bark and underlying tissue around the trunk at  the base of the trees, while using a string trimmer to cut the grass close to the trees. This damage cannot be repaired.

  • Avoid using string trimmers around trees.
    Avoid using string trimmers around trees.
  • Tree damaged by a string trimmer.
    Tree damaged by a string trimmer.
New leaves withered and turned brown on the damaged trees.
New leaves withered and turned brown on the damaged trees.

We revisited the property a few weeks ago and found that the trees had made an attempt to grow this year. Even with the cool, wet spring, they didn’t have a chance. Within a week’s time, the new leaves withered and turned brown. Without the vascular tissue to transfer nutrients and water from the roots to the emerging leaves, the trees will die.

Keep string trimmers away from your trees. Use mulches to control weeds.

Keep string trimmers away from your trees. Use mulches to control weeds.
Keep string trimmers away from your trees. Use mulches to control weeds.
All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Visit to Winkelmolen, June 2019

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 July 11, 2019
MLF Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen, visiting Winkelmolen Nursery
MLF Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen, visiting Winkelmolen Nursery

Maple Leaves Forever visited Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd. recently to introduce our new Executive Director Deb Pella Keen to the staff and to get her boots dirty with a tour of the nursery facilities and production fields. We were shown high quality native maple seedlings, saplings and larger trees growing in fertile soils as we travelled throughout the nursery. We were encouraged to hear that the nursery is continuing to make incremental increases in their production of native maples, with an awareness of the need for the planting of more native species.

Our hosts, Jeff Winkelmolen and Christian Schramp took time to explain to Deb how trees were being grown and “the why we do this” on many occasions. It was a thoroughly relaxed and entertaining visit. 

We thanked Christian and Jeff for their hospitality and a said a special Thank You to the Winkelmolen family for their continued support of the Maple Leaves Forever Program.

  • A field of two year old sugar maple seedlings.*
    A field of two year old sugar maple seedlings.*
  • One-year-old sugar maple saplings.*
    One-year-old sugar maple saplings.*
  • Two-year-old sugar maple saplings.*
    Two-year-old sugar maple saplings.*

*A note regarding seedling and sapling age:

Seedling age is determined by the number of years the seedlings have grown in a nursery seedbed, or the time since the seed was planted into a nursery seedbed. It takes two years to grow a sugar maple seedling.  This is called a 2+0 seedling. The “2” tells us the number of years in the seedbed. The “0” tells us the seedling has spent no time in a transplant field.

The nursery industry uses this correlation to tell the age of seedlings and transplants. For example, a 2+2 tree spends 2 years growing in a seedbed and 2 additional years in a transplant bed. It is four years old.

The “one year old saplings” above, are 5 year old trees, having spent 2 years in a seedbed + two years lined out in a nursery field + 1 additional year in a nursery field during which time it is cultured to produce a sapling. Timewise, it is five years old from when the seed was planted into a seedbed on the nursery. Its actual age is 2+2+1 or 5 years. Size 100-150 cm. 

A “two year old sapling” is six years old, having spent two years growing in the seedbed + two years lined out in the nursery field + 2 years of specialized cultural care in the nursery. Actual age is 2+2+2 or 6 years. Size 150-250 cm.

All About Maples News
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MLF News Posts

  • Sweet Spring – Maple tapping and syrup production
  • Get to know our Staff – Allison Hands
  • Ken Jewett and Maple Leaves Forever Celebrate 20 Years of Advocating for the Native Canadian Maple Tree
  • Get to know our staff – Mary Bella
  • Q&A for Potential Nursery Partners this week!

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