Limeing a suagrbush

[emericksmaple]

Has anyone ever tried limeing their Sugarbush to help tree health and to increase sugar and sap production? If so would you be willing to share your ideas and results with me. In recent years we have noticed dieback in our Sugarbush and our sugar content has been very low the last two to three years.

[GeneralStark]

I suggest having a forester or two look at your woods and/or an extension soil scientist before doing anything too dramatic. There are a number of things that can cause stress to sugar maples that would lead to crown dieback.

[DrTimPerkins]

Has anyone ever tried limeing their Sugarbush to help tree health and to increase sugar and sap production? If so would you be willing to share your ideas and results with me. In recent years we have noticed dieback in our Sugarbush and our sugar content has been very low the last two to three years.

Southern PA does have some dieback issues in maple stands related to soil nutrition. If the glaciers didn't make it to your area, and particularly if you are top or mid-slope, and following some other types of stress (drought), then you could have some base cation (Ca, Mg) deficiencies going on. You can probably find quite a bit on the subject in a Google search. Bottom line is, if your soils are deficient in some nutrient to the extent that the trees are showing symptoms, then some nutrient amendments could help. Whatever you do though, do it fairly slowly and gradually. Forest soils are not like cropland soils. A little bit at a time, repeated every 5 yrs or so is WAY better than a lot in a short time. Generally you do NOT want to add nitrogen, or if you do, only a very slight amount and only in spring or early summer.

[emericksmaple]

Mr. Perkins, several years ago I heard about a fertilizer blend called Maple grow. It was developed by McGill University back in the 90s to help the Canadian producers. Would you happen to know what that formula was? Also do you know what the ideal readings for Ca and mg are for soil for sugar Maples and any other useful information?

[DrTimPerkins]

Too busy to dig out those papers at the moment. I know there has been quite a bit of work done in parts of Quebec on this (most in French) and that they have some prescriptions based upon soil and foliar analyses. Just not a good time for me to be trying to dredge this stuff out right now.

[Michael Greer]

I always have a pile of small limestone around for the driveway. What they call 1-A is about 1/4" to 3/8" washed stones. I have sprinkled a good bit of out in my little woods figuring that limestone soils are good for Maple, and that whole stone will be very, very slow breaking down.

[emericksmaple]

Mr Perkins, When you get a chance, and can dredge that stuff up I would appreciate it. Thanks

[emericksmaple]

Dr. Perkins, we did do soil samples and our PH is an average of 4.9.
Would you have any recommendations?

[DrTimPerkins]

Dr. Perkins, we did do soil samples and our PH is an average of 4.9.
Would you have any recommendations?

That pH is fairly low. I think liming is most likely indicated (pelletized dolomitic lime is probably best). The rate would be 0.5 ton/acre if you want to be conservative, 1.0 ton/acre at most. The guide at http://www.umoncton.ca/umce-foresterie/files/umce-foresterie/wf/wf/pdf/guidefertE.pdf might be helpful for application procedures. Note that their measurements are in hectares, not acres. Best to do it in May for your area if possible, but not terrible to do it outside that timeframe, but if you do it later than that the effect might be delayed.