Our neighborhood association would like to plant 12 to 15 maple trees along our streets this fall. Can you tell us which of the maples will make good street trees in Baltimore?

The four species of large maples that are commonly sold at local nurseries and garden centers are red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and Norway maple (Acer platanoides). Each of them has a place in nature, but they are not all suited as urban street trees.

As its name suggests, the Norway maple is a northern European tree, and we would probably be better off had it remained there. It has escaped into our natural areas and is now on the Maryland invasive species list. It should not be planted.

The silver maple is a fast-growing native tree, but has soft, brittle wood that is prone to break. It is fine for parks and large yards, but does not make a good street tree.

I have seen some sugar maples planted along Baltimore streets, and they will grow for a time there, but they are not the best choice. They need a lot of space for their roots to grow and do not do well when they are confined by tree pits. Also, they are not very tolerant of high environmental stress or pollution.

The red maple appears to be the best maple for urban environments. Although it is not listed as being especially pollution tolerant, there are quite a few red maples growing well along Baltimore's streets. I would recommend that you plant a red maple or a cultivar of red maple.

Bermuda grass has taken over portions of my front lawn and I would like to get rid of it. Can I strip it out at this time of year and put down new sod?

Bermuda grass is very difficult to get rid of because it grows by both above-ground runners (stolons) and underground runners (rhizomes).

You can strip out Bermuda grass at this time of year and plant new sod, however, the Bermuda grass will come back in the spring. Getting rid of Bermuda grass is a battle that requires vigilance and tenacity. It is very important to spot the new starts and to pull them before they spread. An herbicide like Roundup may help, but keep in mind that it will kill most other plants that it contacts. It is best sprayed in the spring when Bermuda grass first comes out of dormancy.

Checklist

1. Are you planting trees with balled and burlapped roots? Whenever possible, the wire cage and burlap should be removed after the ball has been set in the planting hole. This will give the new roots the best opportunity to grow.

2. Are your neighbors bagging their leaves? Why not ask for them? Leaves make great mulch and are a great addition to the compost pile. Your neighbor saves a few plastic bags and you get free organic material.

Dennis Bishop is an urban horticulture educator for the Baltimore office of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Services. If you have a gardening or pest problem, you can call the Home and Garden Information Center hot line (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at 800-342-2507. You can also e-mail questions, order publications and diagnose plant problems by visiting the Web site, www.hgic.umd.edu.