Red Maple Tree in Summer: Appearance, Care, and Problems
A guide to the Red Maple's summer life cycle. Learn to identify its seasonal appearance and provide the essential care needed to avoid common stressors.
The Red Maple, or Acer rubrum, is one of North America’s most widespread deciduous trees. While celebrated for its fall foliage, the tree’s characteristics and requirements shift during summer. This period of vigorous growth presents a unique appearance and distinct care needs. Supporting the tree during this time ensures it remains healthy for its autumn display.
Red Maple Summer Appearance
Despite its name, a healthy red maple has a full canopy of green leaves during the summer. The “red” in its name refers to its reddish twigs and buds, the small red flowers in early spring, and its fall color. In summer, the leaves are 2 to 4 inches long with three to five pointed lobes and toothed edges. The upper surface of the leaf is light green, while the underside is often a paler, whitish shade.
The tree also develops and disperses its winged seeds, known as samaras or “helicopters.” These U-shaped seeds ripen in late spring or early summer, spinning to the ground. The samaras can be red, yellowish, or brown.
Essential Summer Care
Consistent moisture is a primary summer requirement, particularly for newly planted trees. Young trees need deep watering once or twice a week for their first few years to establish a strong root system. For established trees, deep watering every few weeks during prolonged dry spells is usually sufficient, as they are more drought-tolerant. Checking the soil a few inches down is the best way to determine if water is needed.
Applying a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the tree’s base is beneficial. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, suppresses weed growth, and regulates soil temperature. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture buildup against the bark, which can lead to rot.
Summer is not the ideal time for significant pruning, which is best done when the tree is dormant. However, remove any branches that are dead, damaged, or show signs of disease. Fertilizing is generally not needed for mature red maples in summer unless a soil test indicates a specific nutrient deficiency.
Common Summer Problems
A frequent summer issue for red maples is leaf scorch. This is not a disease but a stress response, causing the edges of leaves to turn brown, tan, or yellow. It occurs during periods of high heat, dry winds, and insufficient water when the tree loses moisture faster than its roots can absorb it.
Fungal diseases such as tar spot can also appear. Caused by the Rhytisma fungus, it appears as light green or yellow spots on leaves in late spring. By late summer, these spots develop into raised, shiny black dots that resemble tar. Tar spot rarely causes serious harm to the tree’s health.
Pests such as aphids and spider mites can also be a problem. Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that cause leaves to curl and secrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold. Spider mites are tiny arachnids that cause a stippled, discolored appearance on leaves, and fine webbing may be visible in heavy infestations.