Growing trees for high-quality timber requires a different type of stand than that desired for maximum syrup production. A good sawtimber stand has trees with tall, straight stems and no branching below the growing crown. Historically, forest management in hardwood forests in the Northeast has favored uneven-aged stands and natural regeneration. Thinning a stand, practiced at various stages of development, involves removing poorly formed trees, as well as dead and diseased trees, to promote the growth of healthy, well formed members of the stand. Hence the goal for dense sugar maple stands is to remove as many inferior trees as possible without promoting open-grown characteristics in the remaining trees.
Sugar maple is a very prolific seed producer, and most stands regenerate naturally.
Nursery seedlings are sometimes planted to establish a stand for future maple syrup production or to establish individual trees for ornamental use. Normal transplanting procedures should be followed, and water, fertilization, and weed control should be provided as needed. In any case, the root ball should be planted intact slightly deeper than in its original location. Extra watering and fertilizing may also be necessary. For optimal production, trees should be spaced at 35-foot intervals in rows placed 35 feet apart.