We have established the total space required between plants, but there are other obstacles and features to consider when planting maple. Maples need space to reach their full potential, and space needs to be considered when planting.
Maple trees should be planted at a distance of roughly 25 feet apart from one another. This distance is good for ensuring that each tree’s root system is able to spread outward because maple trees have shallow and expansive roots. However, some of the larger species should be placed even farther apart.
You must place these deciduous trees carefully in your garden so that they do not interfere with the growth of other plants, especially if you are planting more maples. It is highly recommended to plant these trees away from any structures to avoid potential damage.
When planting a tree with invasive roots, extreme care must be taken and planning must be done so as not to damage the environment. Remember that red maples are shallow-rooted, so you should not plant other deep-rooted plants below this drip line.
Long-Term Expectations for Shady Maple Trees
Eventually, you will have a consistent shade tree; mature red maples are 40 to 60 feet tall and 35 to 45 feet wide. Plant large deciduous shade trees on the east, west, and southwest sides of your home to provide shade. When planting trees, allow enough space and make sure to choose a sunny spot. When planting silver maples, you need plenty of space between each other and any house, sewer or concrete floor.
It’s much better to plant trees no taller than 40 feet in a 20-foot radius around your home. Many trees, whether evergreen or deciduous, grow 60 to 80 feet tall and are next to a typical two-story house, which would look rather silly. These mature trees may have roots growing horizontally that are known to reach a length of about eighty feet.
These trees grow well in a variety of conditions, have showy fall color and showy bright red fruits. No other tree can outshine the maple when it comes to spectacular fall colors, shading, and overall landscape beauty. The Japanese maple is a smaller ornamental variety of maple and grows best when planted in a spot that will provide the tree with midday shade.
Tips on Shading a Yard with Trees
If you’re looking for a tree to quickly fill empty spaces in your landscape, Shademaker Trees says Autumn Blaze trees grow about four times as fast as red maples. Your initial spacing will not change as the tree grows, as Autumn Blaze maples do not have a pyramidal shape and will become irregular over time.
If you plant Autumn Blaze trees too close together, the roots compete for natural resources – eventually one or more maples suffer from stunting as they cannot find enough food. Many people over-fertilize trees and shrubs when planting, creating additional stress and problems for the young plant. Which, depending on the size of the root and the age of the tree, can be a minor impediment to lawn mowing, although this is usually only a problem for older trees.
When planting, be careful not to mix fertilizer into the soil before placing the tree in the hole to avoid burning the roots. When planting a tree, be sure to dig a hole and plant two to three times the width of the root ball. Keep the soil moist until the open cutting needs to be replanted. When seedlings or cuttings reach a height of 6-8 inches, transplant them into containers filled with good quality soil. Trim any diseased or dead branches to keep seedlings or cut healthy, then cut them back to size and shape.
The sap of the tree will flow freely from any cuts made on the tree during the growing season and may cause the tree to die. When you prune, do it in late summer or fall; the tree tends to sap when pruned early in the growing season. If you buy a red maple from a good nursery, you probably won’t need to prune it after planting.
Buyers’ Expectations for Young Transplantable Maple Trees
When you buy a bare-rooted red maple to plant in your yard, it usually looks more like a thin stick than a towering shade tree. Red maple does not tolerate salinity or soil compaction very well, so do not use it as a driveway or street tree. The October Glory maple will look spectacular in your garden as a focal point or equally at home next to other plantings due to its upward growth.
This tree is highly adaptable throughout the United States and will work for you year after year, even if the weather is mild. Your maple will tolerate full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, slightly acidic, nutrient-rich soil. All other maples mature in a range of sizes from Japanese Bloodgood maples, so keep this in mind when planting.
As a general rule, if you halve the specified width for a mature tree, it should be the minimum distance from the house – even then, the branches will touch the windows over time. The distance a tree is from a house will control the amount of shade the tree offers in a given area.
Some trees, such as the Japanese maple, can be planted within a few feet of the foundation and pose little to no risk to the foundation. If you must have these trees, keep them away from foundations, water pipes, septic fields, and sidewalks.
Trees take time to grow and many of them can and do grow big, so it’s really worth taking the time when planting a tree and using a tape measure when choosing a planting site. Examining a particular tree’s root system before planting can help you determine how much space they need and plan for potential problems. Read on as we discuss the role roots play in planting issues and analyze specific space requirements by tree species.