answers:
1.) cease & desist w/ fertilizer, root stimulator & "goodies".
2.) The farther the better. Keep mulch at least 6" away from the trunk tho.
3.) Moist, well drained is best. Will tolerate periods of wet soil and flooding.

You're right on schedule brother... Red Maple does not mind moisture, at all. If you can for the greatest success, bring your hose out to the tree and rest it a few inches from the trunk and let the water slowly trickle for a 1/2 hour or an hour, once a week or once every two weeks. There's absolutely nothing wrong with your Ross stuff every month or whatever the label calls for. Nothing wrong at all. You keep this schedule for a couple years and then when and if summers become extremely dry of rain, bring the hose out again, once-monthly. Let it trickle for at least and hour or more. It is recommended to cease fertilization at the second week of August in our climate because fertilizer past this point only promotes soft-tissued, shoot - that are not hardened off when winter comes around. There would be absolutely nothing wrong with using your fertilizer/hormones a few weeks prior to winter (say the second week of Nov. - Dec.). This sort of fertilization will go directly to the roots and give the tree a boost for the following year. There are a ton of theories about correct techniques.... and I've been around for a while. Mulch, keep it an inch or two away from the trunk and keep it between 2" and 3" thick. Extend the mulch to the dripline or further (maybe this will help make mowing easier). Make a nice big circle, that's what I do.

Take Care & Best of luck,

Dax

anderson_dc,

You seem to be doing well. I like the way you're watering at the drip line. When my small transplants aren't showing signs of stress I always do this to encourage the roots to grow out of the planting hole.

I am of the opinion fertilizer is generally a bad idea for permanent plantings. IF for no other reason than "what if the fertilizer is necessary to keep the tree alive in your yard. You going to keep fertilizing the thing when its 40 foot tall and wide"? Also, what if your yard needs 10-3-10? Anyone test the soil?

You don't need a soil test, you're in Iowa, forget it. Continue what you're doing and break a few "rules" that are the norm for most folks to write about. It's almost like the plague to use organics or in-organics anymore and you will be criticized always. It's so annoying to hear the stock answer "don't use fertilizer, have you had a soil test."

This is Red Maple, gimmie a break. It could grow in a pail of water, ya know what I'm saying?

Dax

Is there a good way to tell the difference between the different cultivars of red maples?

I like your post, Dax.

If it can grow in a pail of water, what do you need fertilizer for?
The reason folks get so upset when they hear about the use of fertilizer, is because the fertilizer was sold as a remedy to a problem that it cannot fix.

All the fertilizer in the world isn't going to help a tree that has girdling roots or was poorly sited.

We need more "fertilizer and other goodies" released into the watershed like we need a hole in the head so unless it's absolutely necessary, save your money.