How Do You Germinate Maple Tree Seeds?
Maple trees fill forests and are valued for lumber, landscaping and their brilliant fall coloration of red and yellow. They produce an abundance of seeds which may be collected and planted to start new trees. Germinating the seeds and planting out the seedlings provides trees for landscapes and gardens. Some Japanese species require scarification, stratification and other treatments before the seeds will germinate. Gather the seeds in the spring as they change color or as they fall. Some seeds require scarification and others do not. Some varieties germinate quickly; others may take months or a full year to germinate. Prepare the seed bed with 8 to 10 inches of top soil. Amend the soil with sand and peat if the soil is thick or contains a lot of clay. Do not add fertilizer. Sow the seeds in fall as soon as they are gathered or falling from the tree. Space seeds 1 foot apart and plant each seed about 1/2-inch deep. Fence the seedbed with wire fencing at least 3 feet high attached to met
