Generally I think ill thoughts about this silver maple because it has huge surface roots in my lawn and I'm always waiting for its roots to grow into my sewer line which enters the street main about 8 feet from the tree's base. On the other hand, when it looks like this, how can I not admire it?
(Do all maples have great masses of surface roots?)
This,I think, is a red maple. It too has lots of surface roots. I hope the picture looks good, because I didn't preview it, and I wish I had gone back and taken one the next day or two.. It had gone more orange . Now falling fast.
Actually, silver maples are one of my favorite trees (when they are not in MY yard). I love the foliage, love the bark, and I love the shape (if a tree has managed to stay together). But the downsides are notorious and very real. Great tree for parks or golf courses. Not a good yard tree.
Scott
Thankfully I'm not at all driven to have a lush lawn. Moss is growing in several spots among the surface roots, and I'd love to have more of it. I also should appreciate more that the roots of this tree politely grow under the sidewalk with little disruption of it, and the fallen leaves dry quickly and become as light as tissue paper. I'd better speak more nicely to it, and maybe it will not grow roots into my sewer line...
