Silver maples (Acer saccharinum) are fast-growing, shallow-rooted trees. While they provide quick shade and are common across southern Ontario, they often develop structural problems as they age. Most start to decline after about 80 to 100 years, even sooner if they haven’t been pruned or monitored.
You wouldn’t always spot the danger from the curb. One of these silver maples looked sturdy — until we tapped the trunk and heard it echo. Inside, it was nearly hollow.
Hollow Points and Cavities
It’s common in older silver maples, especially ones that haven’t been regularly pruned or inspected. Decay fungi often creep in unnoticed, slowly hollowing out the heartwood. From the outside, the tree may look solid. But in a few of these Bobcaygeon trees, the cavities ran so deep they were one good windstorm away from falling.
Frost Cracks
Kawartha winters can be brutal. Temperature fluctuations can cause vertical splits in the trunk—known as frost cracks—that leave the tree vulnerable to disease and internal rot. These cracks are often hard to spot unless you inspect the bark closely in spring.
Included Bark Unions
This occurs when two branches grow so closely together that bark becomes trapped between them, forming a weak attachment. Included bark unions are prone to failure and can cause large limbs to shear off without warning, especially after freezing rain or high winds.
Root Damage and Shallow Anchorage
Silver maples tend to form surface roots that can interfere with nearby structures, walkways, and lawns. Over time, compacted soil and repeated storms can affect their anchorage. In this case, some trees were leaning heavily toward the house.
