![]() Planting in different locations, watering more in urban areas and using seed stock adapted to the site’s future conditions, Betzen said, may be successful responses. “This research investigating bigleaf maple is one small piece of that larger puzzle.”īetzen said that foresters may have to change how they manage bigleaf maples in urban areas and wild forests. “Managing, protecting and utilizing our urban and wild ecosystems in the face of climate change and human population growth is and will continue to be one of the major challenges facing us,” said lead author Jacob Betzen, a biological technician with the U.S. After failing to identify any single pathogen or pest responsible for the die-off, the researchers determined that climate change and human activity are driving it. When its immune system is weakened, the tree succumbs to disease and other stressors.īigleaf maple trees are also more likely to experience stress near roads and other development, especially in hot urban areas. The study found that a drier climate predisposes the bigleaf maple to decline. (Jacob Betzen, University of Washington)Īn expert on forestry, Tobin is a co-author of a new study published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management. “These trees can tolerate a lot, but once you start throwing in other factors, particularly severe summer drought as in recent years, it stresses the trees and can lead to their death,” said Patrick Tobin of the University of Washington. The cause of the mass decline has stumped experts for years. Since 2011, bigleaf maples have been dying in both forests and urban areas. ![]() But the shriveling, shrinking leaves increasingly seen in the area are sounding the death knell for these trees. Germination usually occurs in May or during the spring season.After ruling out several diseases, forest pathologists are focusing on hotter, drier summers as the cause of the decline of bigleaf maples in the state of Washington.īigleaf maples, known for their 1.5-foot-wide leaves, are native to the rainy coastal region of the Pacific Northwest. Your seeds will naturally stratify during the cold winter. If your seeds require pretreatment: you should plant your seeds outdoors before the ground freezes in your area (late September to early November). In the Northern states – the best time to plant seeds outdoors is from May to June. Outdoor Planting: If your seeds do not require stratification: the best time to plant tree and shrub seeds outdoors is after the last frost in your area (spring). Keep your seedlings indoors for 2-3 months before transplanting outdoors in the spring (May to June). Once your seeds germinate, move each seed into its own container under the growing lights and on the heat mat. Keep your growing lights on 14 hours per day. Place the seed container on a heat mat under growing light(s). Germination may occur in 1 week or as long as 3 months (depending on the species). Heat & humidity is critical for germination. Gently water your seeds to keep moist, not soaking wet. Place your seeds 1 inch to 1 ½ inches below the soil surface. Planting Instructions: Fill a container with seed starting mix to about ½ inch from the top. ![]() Indoor Planting: If your seeds require stratification or scarification – do the recommended pretreatment before planting indoors. Stratification Requirement: 40-60 days cold moist stratification
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