Seedy Maple

Question:

We have a mature soft maple tree that is getting more and more seeds each year. Is there anything to do that would discourage all that seed growth--maybe spraying with something in the spring? The seeds are getting to be a MAJOR mess. The tree is about 28 years old--will this problem get worse and worse?

Minnesota Master Gardeners say:

 This is probably an Acer saccharinum, silver maple, and they are known for heavy seed production as they mature. However, weather conditions, health and the age of the tree are also contributing factors in how many seeds a tree produces each year. Consequently, some years might not see an overabundance of seed. There isn't much that can be done to stop seed production. You might wish to consider replacing the tree.