It grew from seed in our yard then spent a year in a planter. We put it in the ground last summer and it's now 8' tall; the trunk is only 1" in diameter. We had a 4' tall fence post by it for the winter and wonder if it's necessary to have a post for support this coming winter since it's so flexible. (It's in western PA)

Better to let it "strengthen" naturally by leaving it alone. Staking is important until the roots start doing their job.

A silver maple, you'd be better off strengthening it with a chain saw about 2" off the ground. They are a fast growing, weak, weed of a tree.

Maybe, but we're sentimental: this grew from a seed of a tree planted in the yard when my son was born. Unfortunately we had that tree cut back a couple of years ago and it never came back. I suspect it was already dying because only a few branches would grow each spring, and they'd break during the first summer thunderstorm.

I love silver maples. There is one growing in my neighbors back yard that has roots under my garage. It's causing the foundation to heave.

Every winter, my garage gets hit by broken limbs from this weak tree.

It's a pretty leaf and a pretty tree, but I dont want them growing close to my house.

I ripped a pressure treated 2x4x6 in half, pounded it in and looped wire through a hose around it and the tree. My wife is happy.