skip to main content

Landscape Design

Japanese maple and ???

16 years ago

I have an area to the side of my horse barn sliding doors about 12'long x 4' deep that needs landscaping of some sort. I tried annual flowers but I can't keep the dogs out! I impulsively bought a red Japanese Maple at Wal-mart yesterday with the intention of planting it in this area. What should I plant under and around this tree that is low cost, low maintenance and dog-resistant? I have a bunch of daylilies(stella's, mostly) that I could transplant to this area, or irises (which I also already have- un-named varieties that grow like weeds around here!) or I was thinking about blue-rug junipers. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

inkognito
16 years ago
Red maple/red mulch also available at wally. With the Stella's it will be perfect.
mary_pnw_7b
16 years ago
I have seen yellow Barberry's planted with red maples, which I think looks stunning.
Related Discussions
japanese maple under red maple?
Q
Comments (2)
Just so happens I have a Bloodgood Japanese maple under a canopy of a Sugar Maple and a Red Maple. However, I can probably get away with this as my precip tends to be heavy 50-60 inches annually. In your drier climate, I think there would be excessive competition for moisture--Japanese Maples do NOT like drought. Good luck with your Japanese Maple. PS., Despite having lots of exotic plants, that tree always gets all the attention!
...See More
Japanese Maple or Red Maple seedling?
Q
Comments (9)
I think you mean Bloodgood, and I'm a bit late to this conversation, but they will look like the picture I am sharing: Or this... Or this... These are all from Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood' and germinate successfully from samaras (seeds) that get cold stratified naturally (or in a fridge for 90ish days) and then grow into seedlings (shown in all of my pics). You can graft other cultivars (scions) onto these, which would make these seedlings your eventual rootstock (after seedling grows for about 2 years or 1/8 in). Or these seedlings could be used for bonsai, or just planted as is and they would just be considered Acer Palmatum Red Japanese Maple, not a Bloodgood unless it's grafted. Hope this helps (8 years later)!
...See More
ID Japanese Maple in Portland Japanese Garden
Q
Comments (19)
Are you sure? Because the branch structure and the surrounding bushes (boxwood?) look to be the same. Also, in this photo of the same dissectum, you can see the tree's position in relation to the water. It looks to be the same as the shot posted above. Kneeling down on the path and taking a shot up into the branches would make the tree look a lot larger. If you look at the size of the leaves in comparison to the branches in the shot/link I posted above, it's not actually that big of a tree. Here is a link that might be useful: This post was edited by maplesmagpie on Fri, Nov 14, 14 at 17:23
...See More
Oak? Maple? Japanese maple? Something else?
Q
Comments (3)
Often young oaks have leaves that vary considerable from older plants of the same species. It is red oak group due to pointed leaf tips, but closer than that I doubt it can be IDed due to its youth unless there is a mature oak nearby which might give you a reasonable guess at species.
...See More
shakeytails
Original Author
16 years ago
inkognito, do I detect a bit of sarcasm? I am not a serious gardener, I don't have the time or the money, but I try to make things look nice where I can, even if it is with very common plants. The nice thing about common plant varieties is that they're inexpensive and usually pretty hardy.
Mary, I'd never thought of barberrys- they should discourage the dogs a bit, and they grow fairly quickly, too, right? I'll have to see what's available locally.
lpinkmountain
16 years ago
Barberry, while it can be lovely, is very problematic and invasive in native woodlands. I was at the nursery last week and saw some stunning low growing junipers, I think some of them were yellow tinged. I have goldmound spirea with my red japanese maple, I think that looks good. Also azaleas. And I agree, sometimes it pays to keep it simple and hardy. I like the look of maples with evergreens, and juniper might be spikey enough to keep out the dogs. Can also be mixed with day lilies in clumps.
emj123
16 years ago
I have a bloodgood JM flanked by golden barberry. I find the contrast in colors, texture and shape to be very appealing. Blues also contrast very nicely with JMs--such as blue star juniper, which only get a couple of feet high and wide and keep their blue color. I have blue rug juniper, which is very low growing--but it has turned more green than blue with age and doesn't compliment the red of a JM quite as well.
Brent_In_NoVA
16 years ago
What type of Japanese maple did you purchase? It is a weeper or an upright one? Some of them can get pretty big. It seems like you would want to start by making your bed deeper than 4'. I have been debating about what to plant in a bed with a few very nice Crimson Queen maples. The current plan calls for a grouping of Black Eyed Stella daylilies, a couple Sedums and maybe a small Japanese Holly.

Ink...if I go for the red mulch do you think I should get the brand with built in termite and weed control as well? ;-) It is getting hard these days to find plain old mulch...same with potting soil.

- Brent
shakeytails
Original Author
16 years ago
The variety I got was "acer palmatum atropurpureum". Not weeping. I would have loved a weeping Cherry, but wilted Cherry leaves are highly toxic to horses, and I didn't want to take any chances. The tag says 18' x 18' at maturity, but I figure it'll take a while to get big, and I can always prune! The sidewalls on the barn are 12', and I planted the tree towards the outside corner- so I have a bit of room. Very interesting about the blue rug junipers being too green to compliment the red leaves, and a "bluer" juniper looking better. I certainly wouldn't have ever thought of that. I hope to get out this weekend to see what I can find in the way of complimentary plants, and all of your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
emj123
16 years ago
Take a look at this link:
http://www.oregongarden.org/WYS_specialty_Conifer.html

The picture at the bottom of the page showing a JM between a blue spruce and what looks like a globe blue spruce. IMHO, the blue of the spruce really brings out the vivid red of the JM.

Related Stories

TREES 11 Japanese Maples for Breathtaking Color and Form

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting

GARDENING GUIDES 12 Japanese Maples for a Sunny Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

The right maple in the right place shines in hot summer sun

GARDENING GUIDES 13 Japanese Maples for Shade

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

A surprising variety of these understory trees is waiting to make a statement in your shade garden

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Great Design Tree: Japanese Maple

By Annie Thornton

Lacy form and fiery fall color make Japanese maple a welcome tree for garden or patio

TREES Great Design Plant: Coral Bark Japanese Maple, a Winter Standout

By Paintbox Garden

Go for garden gusto during the chilly season with the fiery red stems of this unusual Japanese maple

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Amazing Small Maple Trees

There's more to maples than syrup. Expand your maple milieu with any of these 5 small and unusual trees

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Vine Maple

Exciting year-round color and adaptability make this highly ornamental native small tree a top choice for home gardens

PATIOS Backyard Ideas: Writer's Studio and a Japanese-Inspired Garden

By Annie Thornton

A nearby Japanese garden inspires a feature-packed backyard and studio for a work-from-home Portland writer

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Lay of the Landscape: Create the Beauty of a Japanese Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Balance, enclosures and the forms of nature combine in serene Japanese garden design. Bring the look home with some of these principles

APARTMENTS Houzz Tour: Modern Japanese Penthouse Atop a Designer’s Office

By Becky Harris

Vintage obis, petrified wood, Samurai armbands and antique fans are just a few of the materials that warm this California apartment

Sponsored

More Discussions

Help! Need curb appeal update!

4

Seeking Ideas for Improving Curb Appeal

7

Advice for Plants around Patio & Deck?

10

Help with curb appeal

11

What is the usual soil ph of my area in NE OH?

5