Silver Maple Problems: Weak Wood, Invasive Roots, and Better Shade Tree Choices

Silver maple's weak limbs shed constantly; surface roots buckle driveways and invade neighbors' yards. Your tree is 5 ft from your driveway and 4 ft from the property line—disaster waiting to happen.

Better Alternatives

• Red maple cultivars: 'October Glory', 'Autumn Blaze', 'Red Sunset'
• 'Heritage' river birch
• 'Allee' lacebark elm

Root Barrier for Driveway

If you keep any tree near pavement, trench 18" deep along driveway and insert aluminum flashing to deflect roots.

Fire up the chainsaw on that silver maple. It's the wrong tree in the wrong place.