May and June are the best months to plant trees before the heat of summer hits.
Island Pride has a variety of trees to choose from—our selection is worth the drive! Choosing a tree is a big decision and you might have that tree for many years to come so it’s something to think about carefully. Check out our trees today and talk to us to see which tree is best for you and your property.
Maple trees are a solid choice for most PEI yards.
Maple trees are a great way to add colour to your garden all season long. For example, the deep burgundy leaves of the Royal Red Norway Maples will complement the variegated foliage of a Harlequin or the classic green of a Sugar Maple throughout the summer. Then come fall, the burgundy of the Royal Red stays burgundy, while the green leaf Maples bring the reds, oranges and yellows to our landscape. The trees whose leaves turn the strongest reds and oranges will be October Glory, Autumn Blaze and Red Sunset.
Island Pride carries three types of Maple trees: Saccharum (or Sugar Maple), Rubrum (Maples that turn red in the fall), and Platanoides (or Norway Maples, an interesting and ornamental hybrid).
Big, leafy trees like Maples will add shade and shelter for you and the wildlife in your garden. A large tree will take a lot of nourishment from your soil. Some people think the sparse grass under a large shade tree is “killing” the grass. However, this sparse growth is simply natural.
Large trees benefit your yard and the planet by sequestering carbon, stabilizing the soil and providing food and habitat for wildlife. If you are adding to your property or replanting after a windfall, consider bringing a Maple into the mix!
Armstrong Maple – Tall and Slim
Armstrong Maples are primarily valued for their rigidly columnar form. It will grow between 50 feet tall and stay slim at 20 feet wide.
It features showy clusters of red flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has green deciduous foliage. The lobed leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall. The furrowed gray bark and brick-red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Harlequin Maple – Variegated Leaves
Of all the different Norway Maples, Harlequin Maples are one of the best variegated versions with its dark green leaves tinged with creamy-white edges. Slower growing than some other varieties, Harlequin Maples will grow up to 40 feet tall with a slightly smaller spread. In the spring, yellow-green flower clusters appear before the leaves open.
Prune any branches with all green leaves to ensure the variegated leaves remain dominant on the tree.
Autumn Blaze Maple – A Great Shade Tree
Autumn Blaze Maple is a fast growing maple tree, growing up to 2 feet per year. It is a hybrid cross of the Red Maple and the Silver Maple, both native to North America. A mature Autumn Blaze can grow to 40-60 feet in height and 40-50 feet wide. This tree has lovely green leaves during the summer turning orange to red in the fall.
October Glory Maple – Leaves Turn Bright Red in Early Fall
October Glory is a fast grower; up to three feet in height each year. October Glory will grow to 40-60 feet tall by 20-30 feet around. It has luminous green leaves in spring and summer and produces red showy flowers in spring. In the fall, the leaves turn red early and stay on the tree after many other trees are bare.
Princeton Gold – Lemon Green All Year Long
A beautiful shade tree which features bright golden yellow foliage in spring that retains its coloration over the entire season. It is filled with lemon-yellow flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. Princeton Gold Maple will grow to be about 45 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 40 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.
Red Sunset – Fast-Growing, Fall Colour
The Red Sunset Maple will grow up to 40-60 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide—and it will get there quickly! This maple can grow up to two feet taller each year. This great shade tree is one of the first trees to start turning colour. In the summer, the leaves are shiny green.
Royal Red – Burgundy Leaves All Year
A Royal Red Norway Maple will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. They grow at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions, can be expected to live around 100 years or more.
Sugar Maple – National Tree of Canada
Sugar Maples are one of the true native tree species to PEI and are a tall-growing addition to your yard. The shape of the sugar maple leaf is well known, as it’s found on the Canadian flag! The Sugar Maple gets its name from its sweet sap which is used to make maple syrup. Sugar Maples can reach up to about 100 feet tall and are a source of food and habitat for insects, mammals and birds. This tree grows best in moist soil that is rich and well-drained. While sugar maples can tolerate shade, they grow best in full sun. Sugar Maple roots are deep and wide-spreading. They are a large and strong tree, ideal for use as a shade tree.
Sugar Maples can live to be 200 years old!
Make sure to check out Anne’s advice if you’re planning to plant a Maple this year.
