The Downside To Planting A Maple Tree In Your Healthy Lawn

One of the most popular trees to plant worldwide are maple (Acer) trees. With so many species, including several native to the U.S., you have your pick of stunning and unique maple varieties perfect for small yards and all types of landscaping needs. However, there is an unfortunate side effect to planting a maple tree in a healthy lawn. Many of the common grass species grown in the U.S. do not grow well under dense shade trees, especially sugar maples (Acer saccharum). It can be a frustrating position when you have a lush, lovely tree, but bare grounds beneath it. 

There are several reasons why you might struggle to grow grass underneath a maple tree. The main reason comes down to the shallow root systems of sugar maples. The roots congregate in the upper part of the soil, 6 to 12 inches below the surface, leading to competition with the roots of other plants, including grass. You might not realize it, but the maple eventually will outcompete any grass for water and nutrients. But the heavy shade created by a maple's dense canopy cannot be discounted. A lot of popular turfgrass species prefer plenty of sunlight and need more air circulation to thrive.

Instead of fighting with your turf or chopping your tree down, think about a ground cover as an alternative to grass. There are many ground covers that thrive in the shade and add beauty to your garden, such as hostas (Hosta spp.) or Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens). Seek out ground covers that grow well alongside the root systems of maples. Be aware, however, that maple roots are known to inhibit growth of nearby plants by exuding chemicals. Even shade-tolerant ground covers may prove difficult to grow.

If you absolutely want to grow grass under your maple, find specific grass species that don't mind shade. Fine-leaf fescues, including creeping red fescue and chewings fescue, are examples of turfgrass that can tolerate growing under maple trees. Be prepared to handle a higher level of maintenance in this scenario. Maple leaves need to be mulched promptly each year after they fall.

Another alternative is to simply not grow anything at all underneath your sugar maple. Because maples use a lot of water, it can even be a benefit to the tree. A big reason why you should be mulching around your trees is to create a barrier to prevent evaporation, incredibly important to conserve moisture in the soil.