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Can I grow anything under this Japanese maple? (Photo)

11 years ago

I have a small (young) Japanese maple that is currently sharing a bed with some ferns. There are also some rhododendron about 6 feet away. I've heard about the problem with maples and shallow/fibrous roots which make it hard to grow anything underneath. Will this be a problem with my J. maple as it matures? It's a nice tree, but I'm thinking of swapping it for a native like American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana). The area is just a few feet up the bank from a creek, so water availabilty shouldn't be a problem. The maple is still small enough to be transplanted fairly easily, so I can find it a good home if it needs moving.

Thanks!

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Comment (1)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Japanese and other Asian maples - also vine maple, Acer circinatum - have non-aggressive, rather well-behaved root systems compared to western maples. They make fine companions for a variety of other plants. But.....the root systems are sensitive and resent disturbance. In fact, too much disturbance in the root zone can lead to some rather severe problems.

If you choose to underplant, select something that will not need a lot of attention in the way of cultivation or dividing - small shrubs, groundcovers, a few colonizing perennials are good choices.
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