Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple: A Stately Tree with Striking Fall Color

Plant Care

The Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple is an adaptable and hardy tree that thrives in an array of settings with proper care. With proper planting and continued attention, your tree will remain brilliantly colored and high-reaching for many years to come.

Light

It does best in full sun but also tolerates partial shade. However, for the greatest amount of fall color, six or more hours of sunlight each day is required. When trees grow in shade, they might exhibit fewer rich fall colors and have slower growth rates.

Soil

This tree likes slightly acid soils 5.5 to 6.5 in pH, well-drained, also moist. It hardens it well and can adapt to the majority of soil types (loam, clay, and sandy soils) as long as good drainage is established. Ensure that the soil retains no water, since impeding water will lead to root rot. Organic matter mixed into the soil that retains moisture and provides the tree with nutrients.

Watering

Water the tree deeply, especially in the early years after planting. Once established, Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple is also tolerant of some dryness, but prefers consistently moist soil. Make sure that you’re not both overwatering as well as underwatering. On dry spells, water deeply once a week, making sure that the water gets to the tree’s roots. Once planted, keep the soil moist, not soggy, to encourage good root formation.

Pruning

You will need to prune your Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple regularly to train it and keep it healthy.

Cut dead or disease-filled branches during early spring before new growth appears. This allows the tree to focus its energy on healthy growth. To maintain good structure and promote a strong central leader, prune out any competing stems. If you want to limit the height of the tree, prune the top so that you have a pleasing, balanced shape.

Pruning should be performed with care, as sweet sap oozes from the incisions in early spring. For large reductions, hold off cutting for late winter or early spring so sap is not lost in excess. Dormant season pruning (late winter) generally is preferable to minimize disturbance of growth.

Propagating

Although the Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple can be grown from seeds, it is most often grown from nursery-purchased seedlings or saplings for more reliable results.

To grow from seed:

• Harvest seeds from late summer into early fall, once they have ripened.
• Stratify seeds by leaving them in a moistened environment (such as in a damp paper towel) in the fridge for a few weeks to mimic winter.
• Cover the seeds with well-drained soil in early spring, keeping the seeds moist.

Seed propagation has been known to slow things down since it usually takes years for a tree to grow to maturity. This is why most gardeners would rather start with a young tree from a nursery.

Growing in pots

Although this magnificent tree is best suited for ground planting, it can be grown in large pots for a limited time, for example, when planted in a patio or for decorative purposes. Growing in pots helps control the growth rate, but keep in mind that the Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple requires space to stretch its roots as it matures.

If growing in a container:

• It should be a large pot — at least 24 inches wide and deep — to give the roots lots of room to grow.
• Plant in a well-draining potting mix formulated for trees or shrubs.
• Water frequently enough that the soil is consistently moist — trees in pots dry out more quickly than those in the ground.

During the winter months, either move the container indoors or protect it with additional shielding to keep the plant safe from freezing temperatures.

As the tree matures it may have to be moved to ground for continued health.

Overwintering

Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple is extremely cold-hardy and will survive cold temperatures, meaning the tree can be planted in places with cold winters. However, young trees and trees that are planted in pots will have greater winter care requirements.

For potted trees:

• If possible, move the pot somewhere sheltered — like a shed or garage — to prevent it from freezing.
• Ensure that your pot has great drainage so that the water does not expand and kill the roots when the water freezes.
• If the tree is planted in the ground, spread some mulch at the base to help insulate the roots from frost and winter desiccation.

The Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple will become dormant in winter, and you can expect your new growth in spring.

Blooming

While the Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple is better known for its incredible autumnal display, it does offer little clusters of small, yellow-green flowers in the spring (usually April or May), before the leaves. These flowers are not very showy but serve an important ecological function, providing food for early-season pollinators.

But the autumnal color of this tree is what is truly remarkable. Fall colors — Every autumn the leaves turn brilliant oranges, reds, and yellows for a stunning and cinematographic display. That color transformation is affected by the tree’s environmental conditions (like sun, moisture and temperature) so each fall show can differ slightly from year to year.

To encourage the best fall color, the tree should receive sufficient sunlight and be supplied with regular watering during the growing season.

Common Issues

The Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple is relatively low maintenance but may have a few vulnerabilities:

• Leaf Spot Diseases: Fungal issues such as leaf spots can occur in wet and humid conditions. To stop this from occurring, do not water overhead and make sure there is good air circulation round the tree.
• Sugar Maple Borer: These pests can damage the tree by boring into the bark. If plants are infested, prune out affected branches and consider treating them with insecticidal soap.
• Tarpapering: This ailment leads to a peel of bark from the tree, usually due to frost cracking. It’s not typically deadly, but it can gradually weaken the tree. Place protective tree wraps in winters of extreme cold.
• Damaged Roots: Improper planting, compacted soil or lawnmower injury can damage roots. Always mulch around the base, and keep heavy foot traffic a distance from the tree.

Fortunately, most of these can be managed with a little care, and will not prevent a healthy tree for years to come.