1 00:00:01,250 --> 00:00:03,460 - [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist 2 00:00:03,460 --> 00:00:05,620 with the University of Vermont Extension. 3 00:00:05,620 --> 00:00:07,670 And this is another Vermont Maple Minute. 4 00:00:08,620 --> 00:00:11,370 All green plants, which includes trees, 5 00:00:11,370 --> 00:00:14,760 need sunlight to produce energy for survival. 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,210 Some trees can satisfy their basic needs 7 00:00:17,210 --> 00:00:19,410 with less light than others. 8 00:00:19,410 --> 00:00:22,993 Sugar and red maples are too samples of such trees. 9 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,290 They're both considered shade tolerant, 10 00:00:26,290 --> 00:00:29,393 with sugar maple being more shade tolerant than red maple. 11 00:00:30,630 --> 00:00:33,430 This means a sugar maple can survive with less light 12 00:00:33,430 --> 00:00:36,193 for longer amounts of time than other species. 13 00:00:37,090 --> 00:00:40,810 This ability isn't simply making more with less. 14 00:00:40,810 --> 00:00:43,730 It's also about using less energy. 15 00:00:43,730 --> 00:00:47,150 For example, sugar maple can survive in the understory 16 00:00:47,150 --> 00:00:50,480 on just a few percent of full sun for years 17 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:55,293 and can reach their maximum capacity at just 25% full sun. 18 00:00:56,450 --> 00:01:00,070 Shade tolerance is not the same as shade loving however. 19 00:01:00,070 --> 00:01:01,870 This is an important distinction 20 00:01:01,870 --> 00:01:03,820 since even though a tree 21 00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:06,300 can survive for decades in the understory 22 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:08,453 it doesn't mean it prefers to do that. 23 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:12,150 The longer a tree has to endure living 24 00:01:12,150 --> 00:01:15,890 in a low light environment the less likely it is to respond 25 00:01:16,770 --> 00:01:19,670 when a gap opens up in the canopy. 26 00:01:19,670 --> 00:01:22,650 To avoid this, make sure the forest management plan 27 00:01:22,650 --> 00:01:25,320 for a given property is written and followed 28 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:28,573 to ensure regular thinning to produce adequate light. 29 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,520 This is Mark Isselhardt, 30 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,940 Maple Specialist with University of Vermont Extension. 31 00:01:34,940 --> 00:01:37,290 And this has been another Vermont Maple Minute.