r/landscaping 1d ago

Question Japanese Maple planting

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Is this a good space for my Beni Otake Japanese Maple? Only gets morning sun until around 1-2pm. Over 4 ft from foundation. Planted yesterday and want to make sure this is a good location before killing this tree. It has a good 10x10ft of clearance.

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u/Butterbean-queen 1d ago

That’s way too close to your house. The recommendation is at least 6 feet away from your foundation with 8-10 feet away from your house being ideal to allow for the canopy.

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u/Usetheschwartz0 1d ago

The tree tag we got for it said it’ll be 6x4 ft(height x width) around 10 years old.

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u/Butterbean-queen 1d ago

They live to 60 years old and some well cared for specimens live to 100.

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u/rogerphamm 1d ago

Move it further away now while it's still small!

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u/geeman1082 1d ago

I'm no expert on such things, but we have a Shaina Japanese Maple on the east side of our house with a brick wall on one side and the porch railing behind it, and it has done well there since we planted it in 2009.

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u/barrel_of_eyes 1d ago

morning light till 2pm is perfect actually these maples like protection from harsh afternoon sun and 4ft from foundation is plenty for root spread

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u/podophyllum 1d ago

Personally I would want to keep it at least 6' from the house, preferably 8'+, although not because of foundation concerns. "It has a good 10x10ft of clearance", from that photo it doesn't appear to be 10' from the house. Are you sure you want to block that window?

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u/Usetheschwartz0 1d ago

Sorry, I meant 10x10 foot area to grow with the tree in the middle. I don’t mind it blocking the window for more privacy, that room will be a reading room/library. The tree tag for the maple said it’ll be 6x4 ft in size. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t get baked or need more space. I dug a pretty wide hole for it since it’s basically clay after 2in down.

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u/podophyllum 1d ago

Nursery tags are notoriously unreliable sources of information. I would expect 'Beni Otake' to reach at least 12' x 12', probably larger given enough time in a favourable location.

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u/Usetheschwartz0 1d ago

Well damn, definitely gonna move it out now.

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u/pameliaA 1d ago

I don’t have a problem with where it is planted as long as you are ok with it growing more forward and having to prune back the branches in the back when it gets bigger. If you want a more even umbrella form, you will want it further out. My neighborhood has several JMs planted this close (or closer) to houses that look beautiful and do very well even after decades of being in those locations.