I really like sugar maple. They are my favorite maple. I found I can get a bunch of small ones cheap from the New Hampshire State Nursery. Thing is, I'm not sure they are the best choice for my site.

The site receives hurricane propelled salt spray about once a decade. That killed a spruce. There are many unidentified maples that proliferate and lose limbs regularly, and a very happy Japanese maple. The spots I'm contemplating are between 12 and 30 feet from a road that is very lightly salted in the winter. The web says local soil is "Merrimac Fine Sandy Loam". Based on my observations it seems to consist of layers of sand mixed with rocks and in spots there is an underground clay layer. Zone 6 Massachusetts.

Would sugar maple do well here? Or should I go with plan B, a row of Red Oak? Problem is the existing trees behind the planting spot have great fall color, and I don't want to mess up the fall views.

Should I worry about Asian Longhorn Beetle?