Step 1: Select Your Planting Site.Morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal for Japanese Maple trees. Filtered sunlight is best. If you are in the Upper or Middle South, full sun. If your site has poor drainage, improve your soil, create a raised bed, or use a large pot.
While oaks, poplars, and ash trees are undoubtedly the most common causes of foundation issues, there are many other types of trees that can cause issues. Some are deciduous trees, such as the black locust, boxelder, Norway maple, silver maple, sweetgum, sycamore and tuliptree.
Dig a hole three times the width of the root ball, but not as deep. When you put the tree into the hole, it should sit slightly above the soil line.
Large trees, like the peepal, should not be planted too close to the house as their roots can damage the foundation of the house. The trees that attract insects, worms, honey bees or serpents should be avoided in the garden. They bring bad luck.
Trees known for their rather undesirable qualities, and why you should steer clear of them.
- Cottonwood. One of the trees you should avoid having in your backyard is certainly cottonwood.
- Bradford Pear.
- Mimosa Tree.
- Mulberry Tree.
- Chinese Tallow.
- Norway Maple.
- Eucalyptus.
- Quaking Aspen.
Best Trees to Plant Near a House
- Crabapple (Zones 3-8): A short, flowering tree that matures at about 20 feet tall.
- American hornbeam (zones 3-9): A slow-growing member of the birch family that's small in size.
Most Japanese maples grow at a slow to moderate rate of 1 to 2 feet per year. They typically grow fastest when they are young and slow down as they reach maturity. Planting them in a spot where they are happy and caring for them well helps maximize their growth rate.
Trees that are least likely to cause problems to houses are apple, plum, pear, hawthorn, rowan and birch. Pyrus calleyrana 'Chanticleer' is a good tree to plant near houses as its roots won't damage foundations. In Abbey Street, Faversham, Kent.
Understory TreesJapanese maples generally grow at a rate of 12 to 24 inches per season. An average height is 10 to 15 feet in 15 years of growth, with much of their growth coming in earlier years. Most Japanese maples attain a mature height ranging from 10 to 25 feet.
This graceful beauty fits well into any style garden, and Japanese maples are wonderful companions to azaleas, hydrangeas and shade-loving perennials. Many of these trees grow slowly and top out at 10 to 15 feet tall, so they fit into beds, borders, foundation areas and even containers.
If your soil is heavy clay, make the planting hole 2 to 4 inches shallower than the root ball. In poorly drained or heavy clay soil, the plant is best placed higher than its original planting depth at about 4 to 6 inches higher than the surrounding soil creating a raised mound.
Japanese Maples are best transplanted when they're dormant, which means fall. When digging up the tree, be careful of the roots. A rule of thumb is if the trunk is 2" in diameter, dig at least 9" from the truck all around.
| Botanical Name | Size | Price |
|---|
| Upright Growing Tree Form Varieties | | |
| Acer Palmatum "Bloodgood" | 4' | $60 |
| 5' | $90 |
| 6' | $125 |
Japanese maples need:While some can tolerate full sun, most Japanese maple varieties prefer dappled or afternoon shade, especially when young. Shade does have its limits though–they need some sun for best foliage color and to promote the more loose and open structure for which they are prized.
Late winter or early spring is when to prune a Japanese maple. This is its natural dormant period and less injury is caused by Japanese maple trimming during this time. For the most part, pruning Japanese maples is confined to removing dead wood and fine stems, which obstruct the handsome skeleton of the tree.
Acer palmatum is native to Japan, China and Korea. It is often used as a landscape ornamental plant.
In the sugar maple's native cold climates, the best time to plant is usually early fall. In the warmer parts of the sugar maple range, however, planting can be delayed until winter. Sugar maples planted in spring have less time to become established but can still survive.
Magnolia Tree FactsIn general, plant large trees 30 to 50 feet from the house foundation to prevent damage by the roots. While magnolia roots are not considered invasive, they may seek out leaking water or sewer lines.
Here are some Japanese maples that can tolerate full sun in the Triad with good watering practices: Shania-Not only is 'Shania' sun tolerant, she's compact too. The perfect choice for smaller areas, 'Shania' is slow growing and only reaches 8-10' tall and 8' high, with dense, layered growth.
Some maple tree root systems are deep, while others are just below the surface. The silver maple tree root system is one of the most intrusive of all the maple tree root systems. The silver maple tree root system is large and has very strong roots. They will easily grow up and raise cement sidewalks and porches.
Roots rarely cause significant damage to concrete foundations. Occasionally, roots may find their way through existing cracks and enlarge them. But as long as you maintain your foundation, you're unlikely to have any trouble with tree roots.
They have thick, strong roots that grow near or above the surface of the soil. Although they aren't as destructive and invasive as those of silver maple trees, they can raise sidewalks and make lawn maintenance a difficult chore. Exposed roots are easily injured if you run over them with a lawn mower.
The long life of the tree and its resistance to disease and infestations are without question due to the durability of its trunk and branch wood. Like other maples, the sugar maple has a shallow, spreading root system that is well adapted to wet soil conditions.
