Is soil pH enough for a Red Maple (Acer species) in Waco?

buwigby · Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Waco,TEXAS

I have a new house build and want to plant two red mape tress (Acer species). I read that these need a pH of < or = to 7.2

I took two soil samples and combined the soil samples per instructions. The pH was 7.7

If I plant these will it be a waste of time? Is there anything to do to the soil to help?

I tried to talk to Howard Sunday but was the last caller on the air. He had only a few seconds with me and started talking about a big tooth maple or a caddo maple. I tried these at my last house and they are painfully slow in growing. I have not been able to find a 40 gallon source for these trees. I need to plant soon. Help if you have any thoughts or comments.

Thanks.

Tricky Grama · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:26 am Post subject: Red Maple

Howard's book "Texas Trees" says: "Red maples occur primarily in the wetter areas in the piney woods of east TX. For best results, plant in full sun. Red maple is easy to grow in deep soils, prefering sandy, acid conditions, (note from me-pH of 7.2 is neutral) but can adapt to clay soils as long as white rock is not near the surface. Success will be fair to moderate in the clay soils. Easiest to grow is the trident red maple or trident maple-(yellow in fall instead of red, tho). Great choice for samdy soils."
Patty

buwigby · Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Waco,TEXAS

Thanks.

other choices would be big tooth maple and caddo maple as I said but it is my personal experience that slow growing. I do not know of source of large trees to plant of these two type. Any help with that?

Also, does anyone have any experience with "chalk maple" and where to find a good specimen for planting soon in Waco?