So you have planted a maple tree, and it is growing beautifully. It has lovely green foliage in the spring and summer, and its leaves turn a blazing orange or red in the fall. Your tree provides shade and lends some beauty to your yard. But at the base of your tree, there are all these unsightly weeds! How do you get rid of them?
Weeds are not only unsightly under maple trees, but they are also potentially dangerous for your tree, so it is important to get rid of them, and there are a number of methods you can use. Some methods are easier than others, and some methods are more expensive than others, so it can be difficult to determine the best way to get rid of weeds for you and your specific circumstances. We have gathered three of the easiest ways to get rid of weeds under your maple tree, or to stop them from growing altogether.
If you want to keep your maple tree healthy, keep it free of weeds. Read on to learn about ways to stop weeds from growing under your maple tree, how to kill weeds that are already there and the various pros and cons of different methods.
Why You Need To Stop Weeds From Growing Under Your Maple Tree
It is very important to get rid of the weeds that grow underneath your maple tree for a number of reasons. Weeds can hinder the growth of your tree in a couple of ways, and they can cause problems for you and your home. Here are some key reasons to prevent your maple tree from having weeds grow underneath its branches.
Weeds Will Compete With Your Maple Tree For Nutrients
All trees and plants need nutrients from the sun and soil, even and especially weeds! And not all areas of your yard have enough nutrients in the soil for all the plants that grow there. So if there are weeds under your maple tree, those weeds are using nutrients that could be going to your tree instead.
Weeds Will Compete With Your Maple Tree For Water
Maple trees need lots of water. But weeds need water, too. If the weeds under your maple tree drain the soil underneath the tree of its moisture, that means less water for your maple tree.
It could even be possible for the weeds to cause drought-like conditions for your maple tree without you realizing it. Then you might be watering the tree with the regular same amount of water as always but less of it is reaching your maple tree.
Weeds Usually Do Not Look Very Nice
And, finally, you probably want to get rid of the weeks under your maple tree because weeds are unsightly and make your yard or garden look messy and unkempt. Some cities and counties have ordinances to prevent weeds from growing too tall because they are such a nuisance for neighbors.
Weeds Can House Rodents, Insects, And Snakes
Weeds can also harbor unwanted insects or even wildlife like rodents or snakes. They can also hide in areas of standing water that produce mosquitos. Having rodents around is a health hazard for your house, and having snakes around is not only something you might find creepy but it is also potentially dangerous, depending on the type of snake. Also, mosquitos are more than just pests; they can carry diseases.
So, for many reasons, it is a good idea to get rid of the weeds under your maple tree. Here, we have outlined some of the most effective means of weed prevention and removal. We also discuss some of the pros and cons of each method.
Removing Weeds: The Basics
Weed removal is sometimes easy and simple, but it can often be frustrating and require multiple attempts or methods before the weeds are under control.
Keep in mind that weeds are more prevalent in the summer months than at other times of the year. Also, weeds tend to grow bigger and in larger numbers right after a period of rain. Knowing these trends for weed growth can help you be prepared to deal with the weeds when they are at their worst.
There are a couple of ways to approach weed control. You can try to keep the weeds from growing at all. You can also kill or remove the weeds after they appear. Or you can try both. Either way, we have options for you.
3 Ways To Keep Weeds From Growing Under Your Maple Tree
Use A Weed Barrier To Prevent Weeds From Growing At All
If you are opposed to the use of any type of chemical, you still have quite a few options for weed prevention and removal. Here are a couple of ways you can implement a physical barrier under the soil near your tree to stop weeds from growing.
Using A Plastic Barrier Under Your Tree
One way to prevent weeds from growing at all is to literally place a barrier on top of the ground to keep weeds from being able to grow. There are some different ways to accomplish this. One method is to use plastic, like a black plastic tarp. There are plastic barriers made for this purpose, but these plastic barriers can easily tear with rocks and sticks, plus they do not allow air to get through to the soil underneath.
Using A Fabric Barrier Under Your Tree
If you want to try a different type of barrier, you can also consider a fabric barrier. For example, you can find lots of options for weed barrier fabric, like this Garden Weed Barrier Landscape Fabric.
These fabrics, sometimes called geotextiles or weed barriers, are usually black but sometimes come in white. They are laid underneath a layer of rocks, pebbles, or even turf but on top of the natural soil. The idea is that water and air can still get through them but weeds cannot, so the grass on top can grow but weeds cannot grow through the geotextile.
According to Clemson University Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center, these textiles work well for weeds that grow annually, like those that just grow in the summer or spring. But if you have a problem with, for example, crabgrass, it can still germinate under the textile and grow up through the tiny holes in the geotextiles. It is also harder to keep weeds that return year after year from growing through these types of barriers.
Placing Your Barrier
These types of plastic or fabric barriers are placed under a layer of turf or rocks in your yard, depending on what type of yard you have. If you are interested in xeriscaping, which is landscaping that requires little to no water, you might consider replacing the sod or grass under your maple tree with a physical fabric or plastic barrier that is covered with rocks or pebbles, or even bark. Many flower beds feature this type of barrier under bark, as do the areas around the trunks of many trees, so this is a popular way to keep weeds at bay under your maple tree.
Another benefit of barriers like these is that they keep weeds away but they also function much like mulch in helping the soil under your maple tree retain water. Barriers like these, whether plastic or fabric, also help keep heat in the soil, which is very beneficial in the winter months. The barriers work like insulating layers to keep heat in and keep the frost out.
So, consider a barrier if you want weed prevention that also serves some other purposes like keeping in moisture and heat, and that looks good as an aesthetic feature when used in conjunction with xeriscaping methods like rocks, pebbles, or bark. You can also plant plants through the barrier, so having it placed doesn’t mean that you can’t have some strategically placed decorative plants under your maple tree; in fact, the barrier will help protect those plants by preventing them from having to compete with weeds, too.
Use A Herbicide For Weeds That Have Already Grown
You can target the weeds themselves with a product that includes a focused nozzle for spraying just the weeds you want to kill, like Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed and Grass Killer III, which includes a Sure Shot Wand to help you target just the areas you want to spray with herbicide and not the other plants or grass around your maple tree.
Another option is an insecticide made for areas that are highly trafficked in your yard or garden like pathways, sidewalks, and other areas that you want to avoid spraying but that tend to have lots of weeks around them. One such product is Spectracide Weed and Grass Killer, which claims to have a targeting sprayer that can help you spray driveways but also the areas around trees, like the base of your maple tree.
Some types of herbicides that are applied after the weeds have already grown are 100% effective at killing the weeds. This alone is a great case for these types of treatment, but there are still some drawbacks that make people choose a method that might be less effective but that suits their needs better.
If you are not as concerned about the potential hazards and feel confident that you can keep everyone safe while using these products, they are often the most effective means of ridding your maple tree of weeds.
Use A Herbicide That Prevents Weed Growth
Some herbicides can be used during the parts of the year when the weeds’ growth is dormant, like Monterey Horticultural Oil, which is also certified for use in organic gardens. While maple trees do not produce fruit, if you plan to grow any type of organic fruit tree, you probably want to pay close attention to the ingredients in any fertilizer, herbicide, or insecticide that you use on your trees, yard, and garden.
This type of product, certified for organic gardens, might be a good fit because you can use it anywhere, plus you do not have to worry about cross-contamination from your maple tree’s herbicide to any other plants or trees.
You can also prevent weeds with other types of herbicide, like Preen Extended Control Weed Preventer, which claims to stop weed growth for as long as six months and is safe to use around many other types of plants and trees. This herbicide, however, is not safe for use around food you plan to eat, so although it will work well around the base of a maple tree but not if you have a nearby vegetable garden or fruit tree. If this applies to you, consider another method of weed prevention and removal.
If you want to try a product that has multiple purposes, you might want to consider a weed preventer that also provides some extra nutrients for your maple tree at the same time.
One such example is Preen Garden Weed Preventer Plus Plant Food, which will keep weeds from growing under your tree while also delivering as long as three months of protection from weeds and nutrients for your maple tree. This product claims to be particularly good for the roots of your tree and is safe for a number of types of plants, so you might buy enough to use on your maple tree plus other trees or plants in your yard or garden.
Other Ways To Prevent Weed Growth
According to Utah State University Extension Yard and Garden, you can also prevent weeds from growing by avoiding tilling around the soil near the trunk of your maple tree, using mulch to keep weeds from growing, and removing the turf about two to four feet from your tree.
Weeds are notorious for growing in inhospitable conditions, so it does not always work to just make the soil around your maple tree a less-than-nice place for weeds to grow. But by avoiding tilling, you make it harder for anything to germinate and grow, including weeds.
Also, mulch can accomplish something similar to bio textiles in that it physically blocks the weeds from pushing up to get sunlight and grow. Lastly, removing the turf from around your tree will give the weeds fewer nutrients and a less hospitable place to grow, which is always helpful.
And One Not-So-Easy Way To Get Rid Of Weeds Under Your Maple Tree
The methods above require some expense but, with the exception of landscaping your yard with plastic or fabric, they are relatively quick and easy to implement. But if you want to go with a method that is totally free of costs and does not require any equipment or chemicals, you do have one other option.
You can always pull the weeds by hand. This is certainly not the easiest way to get rid of weeds, as it involves a lot of hard and tedious work, but it is a surefire way to make sure you do not expose any people or pets to potentially dangerous chemicals, to make sure you do not kill any plants you do not mean to kill, and to avoid having to spend any money at all.
You might think that this method seems self-explanatory, but there are actually some tips that can help you weed the area under your maple tree by hand a little easier. Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
- Make sure to wear gloves. Not only will they protect your hands, but they can help you get a better grip on the weeds.
- Make sure you remove the entire weed, including all the roots. Even a little bit of root left behind will just regrow the weed again. Your goal is to remove the entire plant.
- Put the weeds you pull into a bucket or bag; don’t lay them on the ground. This will make your cleanup easier, but it also prevents the weeds from spreading seeds around while you are working on weed removal.
- Weed when the soil is moist. You don’t want it to be soaking wet, but wait until shortly after a rain or your sprinklers have run. The moist soil will make it easier for you to remove the entire weed, including the root.
- Don’t wait too long to start removing weeds. The bigger they are, the harder they are to pull.
- Get a stool or garden pad to protect your knees while you are weeding.
- Keep a spade handy in case you have to dig a weed out that is difficult to pull.
Use these tips to make your weeding as easy, quick, and effective as possible.
A Quick Reference For Weed Removal And Prevention
You can use this chart as a quick reference to help you think about methods of both weed removal and weed prevention to keep the ground around the trunk of your maple tree free of weeds at all times.
| Method of Weed Removal/Prevention | Pros | Cons |
| Herbicide (non-organic) | Fast acting; a high likelihood of success; long-lasting in many cases | Harmful to people and pets; difficult to use with accuracy at times; might kill plants that you do not want to kill. |
| Organic Herbicide | Preserves the organic status of fruits, vegetables, and plants; can be less harmful to pets and people (but not always!) | May not be as effective or fast-acting as non-organic herbicides. |
| Ground Cover | Does not require chemicals or harmful substances; safe for people and pets; long-lasting. | Laborious to install; some weeds may still grow through, requiring additional treatment or gardening. |
| Manual Labor | No chemicals or harmful substances are used; no cost other than your time and effort. | Tedious and difficult work. |
You might find that you have to use multiple methods together or that one method works better than another depending on the type of weed or the time of year. It will take some experimentation to see what works best overall, but sometimes you might find that just one treatment is all you need for some of the weeds under your maple tree.
A Few More Things Of Note
While you are learning about how to prevent weeds from growing under your maple tree, you might want to learn more about what types of plants do and do not work well under maple trees, whether or not you consider them weeds. So check out our post on 15 Plants Not To Grow Under A Maple Tree.
On that note, though, there are some plants that you should try to plant around your maple, which we talk about in our piece called 11 Best Plants To Plant Under Your Maple Tree.
That’s A Wrap!
Once you have chosen the weed removal or prevention method that works best for you and your family and home, you can start implementing it right away to aid the growth and health of your maple tree. Choose products carefully, and make sure that you always read the directions carefully.
As always, remember that insecticides, herbicides, poisons, traps, and any other dangerous type of pest or weed removal should be kept away from pets and people–especially children–at all times.
Enjoy your weed-free maple tree!
References
Ahrens, J. F. (1960). Combinations of herbicides for weed control in Maple tree nurseries. In Proceedings of the Northeastern Weed Control Conference, 1960 (pp. 131-6).
Ingram, D. L. (2012). Life cycle assessment of a field-grown red maple tree to estimate its carbon footprint components. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 17(4), 453-462.
