Silver Maple - why are there no helicopter seeds yet this year? - Ask Extension
Every year we wait to add mulch to our garden until after the helicopters have dropped. Typically they are falling by now but I noticed there are none...
Knowledgebase
Silver Maple - why are there no helicopter seeds yet this year? #871682
Asked June 05, 2024, 10:41 AM EDT
Every year we wait to add mulch to our garden until after the helicopters have dropped. Typically they are falling by now but I noticed there are none in the trees. Can you tell me if there will not be any this year or are they just really late in producing?
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
thanks for the question. While we don't usually cite the Farmer's Almanac as a research-based resource, this is a good overview of why Maples may be dropping more or less samaras (helicopter seeds).
Last year was a Mast year as we had been in 3 years of drought and trees in Minnesota were stressed. this year, trees may be just storing that water for energy. there is no real scientific answer as to why not this year.
I've not seen many here in Hennepin County either.
