Silver Maple Roots - Ask Extension
We have a large silver maple with exposed roots. Concerned about lawn mower cutting roots. Please advise which is a better, mulching or planting groun...
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Silver Maple Roots #864964
Asked April 18, 2024, 9:00 AM EDT
We have a large silver maple with exposed roots. Concerned about lawn mower cutting roots. Please advise which is a better, mulching or planting ground cover.
Thank you
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Silver Maple trees are native to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but the one drawback is those shallow roots. You can either remove or smother the turf, mulch around the tree far enough from the trunk to cover the roots, or add topsoil, plant a few native groundcovers, and then mulch. I would recommend the latter. Two native groundcovers that spread quickly and do well in the shade are: Golden Ragwort/Packera aurea and Golden Alexanders/Zizia aurea.
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/native-plants/native-groundcovers/. Reducing your lawn and adding native shrubs and plants will also improve the environment.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-alternatives/
Debbie
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/native-plants/native-groundcovers/. Reducing your lawn and adding native shrubs and plants will also improve the environment.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-alternatives/
Debbie