Know Your Zone

• Maples grow mostly in the large North Temperate Zone. Within this zone there are a number of smaller zones where particular species of maples will grow best. For instance, in Zone 3, which includes some of the northernmost parts of the U.S. and has average annual minimum temperatures of -30 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, black maples, sugar maples and Norway maples will do well. Japanese maples, on the other hand, tend to grow best in Zones 6 through 9, which include the southern and western parts of the U.S.
  
  

Soil

• Soil is one of the most important considerations when it comes to growing maples. Be sure that your maple can access enough nutrients and enough water. Good soil is essential to the health of your tree and to its ability to withstand diseases. Beneficial mycorrhizal fungi can help with soil health and nutrient absorption. Regular watering in dryer climates and fertilizer can also help with soil and tree health.
  
  

Diseases and Insects

• Diseases that can harm maple trees include anthracnose, maple wilt and sapstreak. Anthracnose covers a number of diseases caused by related fungi and can harm many different trees. Maple wilt is particular to maples and is caused by the soil-born fungus Verticillium. Norway maples are very susceptible to maple wilt as are silver, sugar, red, sycamore and Japanese maples. Sapstreak is a fatal disease caused by fungus and only affects sugar maples. Insects, like the Asian long-horned beetle, are also important to watch out for.
  
  

Maple Syrup

• If you want to tap your maple trees to make maple syrup, you should follow a few rules to keep your trees healthy. Though larger trees that measure more than 25 inches in diameter can sustain up to three taps at a time, smaller trees measuring between 10 to 17 inches should only have one tap. Trees can generate between 10 to 20 gallons of sap per tap in a year. The ideal spacing for a tree to be tapped is one tree for every 30-by-30 feet of space. This means that you can fit 50 to 60 trees per acre without compromising their health.