Plant an October Glory Tree. Your yard will thank you.

03/01/2025 | Scarlett's Garden |

Whether you are looking to add some privacy, a tree to your front yard, or some compact color to your backyard, an October Glory maple tree is the way to go. For months, we searched and researched for the perfect tree to add to this corner of the garden. We settled on the October Glory of the maple tree variety. We planted in the Fall and it held up extremely well through the winter.

Here are our notes so far:

  • What are the pros of an October Glory? The October Glory is very hardy, deer resistant, and fast growing, which makes it a very attractive choice (especially if you are in an area that may experience harsh winters).
  • What are the cons of an October Glory? They have a shallow root system (which we actually see as a pro for the location we decided to plant in), and they also have sensitive bark, so make sure to be careful with your equipment when landscaping around these in the spring and summer. Also, consider adding some tree guard to its bark after the first frost.
  • When to plant an October Glory? Fall is the best season to plant this maple tree variety.
  • Where to plant an October Glory in your garden? We chose an area where we could use some vertical privacy. If there is an area in your yard that looks out on your neighbors where you wish it didn’t, that might be the very spot.
  • How big do these maple trees get? The October Glory variety can grow up to 40 – 50 feet and have a spread of 25 – 30 feet. So, make sure that you have enough room and don’t plant too close to the property line. The branches will spread in an oval shape upward, so take this into consideration when planting and how much shade you want falling on your garden.
  • Are October Glory trees invasive? No, the root system of an October Glory maple tree is not invasive. The tree has more surface level roots. Therefore, make sure it has plenty of space away from other established plants. Also, do not plant right next to your driveway.
  • Why choose an October Glory? For Scarlett’s Garden, we gravitated towards this tree because of its oval shape and branch spread. In the fall, it will produce beautiful orange and red shades in the garden and (hopefully, we are told), little red flowers in the spring. But one of its most attractive features is the dense greenery that it will provide in the summer, when we are most active outside in the garden and where we can enjoy the privacy and shade.