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Landscape Design Japanese Gardens Design Dilemma

Japanese maple 'Bloodgood' tree in front of south facing window?

5 years ago

Hi there,

I'm having a dilemma on where to place my Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood', however I was wondering if planting it in front of my window (10ft away) would be considered attractive with the structure of my house? The tree will grow between 15' to 20' feet tall & wide, and will be somewhat airy looking.

My front window faces south and gets lots of sun so I would like to use it to filter some of the sun and watch birds/wildlife. (Next week I'm getting new siding which will be medium grey with white trim). The over grown "landscape" you see in the image will be changed to reflect more of a zen style, and I'll be adding more foundation planting to frame the house better as well.

Thanks kindly in advance!

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Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
If you don't mind blocking the view from inside the window looking out, it could work. However, I'd space further away than 10'. 'Bloodgood' can get a lot bigger than the size you quoted, although will grow slower and stay somewhat smaller in your zone. And the "airiness" it may produce could depend on how it is tended and pruned....they can also produce a very dense and somewhat dark (due to leaf color) canopy.
Kitty thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Jenn TheCaLLisComingFromInsideTheHouse
5 years ago
The tree guy I've been talking with recommends planting the same distance away from the house as the canopy max range size. So if your tree can range from 15'-20' you should plant that same distance away from the house.
Kitty thanked Jenn TheCaLLisComingFromInsideTheHouse
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I live in Meridian, MS., which is probably not much farther north than you are. The Bloodgoods (purpley red all spring and summer, red in the fall) do extremely well here, and so do the species Japanese Maples. A Bloodgood that is about 15 feet tall is likely 20 years old or more. I believe that it's the fancy hybrids and grafted trees that are pretty well disastrous this far south, though I understand that Seiyru does well too. What's important is getting the conditions right: afternoon shade, if possible, and consistent moisture, though not soppy wet. The species is far more tolerant of our heat. Mine gets sun nearly all day long. They will grow much faster and be much, much less expensive. Mine has red new foliage and stems in the spring, green in the summer, and brilliant, fiery red in the fall. It has just as nice a form as any of the fancy ones. I bought it two years ago for about $80 and it was about five feet tall when I bought it. It's coming along very nicely. If you have a friend who has a healthy, happy maple, ask for seedlings. They seed like mad around their base where they are happy and the seedlings will be the species. Look for one with pretty leaf form and color. Or...ask for seeds. I have a friend who grows JMs from seed and sells them at our Master Gardeners sale. Seiyru has very lacy leaves, is green in the summer and butter yellow in the fall. I have seen it a few places around our town and it is beautiful. A two foot one is about $125. See what I mean?
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PRO
Yardvaark
5 years ago
In front of a window wouldn't be good choice in my opinion, unless the tree was 15', 20' or more away, and you kept it limbed at to maintain a view beyond, below the tree. Can't really tell what's there on account of the shrub being in the way. You'd need to photo it from the other side of the shrub.
Kitty thanked Yardvaark
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years ago
In this case the view will be of the inside of the tree which will sometimes have birds, especially if you add feeders and a water source.. What direction does the house face? If you can set it a bit to the right and still get the shade you want, then you will be able to look both into the tree and to a longer view.
Kitty thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
Kitty
Original Author
5 years ago
I very much appericate everyones suggestions!!

Thank you so much!

The house faces south and the view from the window isnt really the greatest, but I do tend to keep it airy with pruning. I'm on a corner & stop sign intersection -- there is quite a bit of traffice that goes by, I'm also on top of a hill so anyone who drives by has nice view right into the livingroom if the blinds are left open. Althought, I do have a small sliver of harbour view when standing from the upstairs window...

Thanks again everyone!

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