Plants require adequate space. Especially when they reach their mature size. This is a common problem with trees. People select their favourite species, bring it home, plant it and….years later it’s a disaster. You have to read the labels and ask about mature height at the time of purchase.
Acer palmatum
Consider the case below. What’s wrong here?
This Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) was probably a gorgeous little tree when it was planted here. But what an awful place for a tree. Consider the lack of light, lack of rain water, limited soil space in the box, and lack of room under the overhang. Brutal conditions for a tree.
It’s desperately reaching for light so it can feed itself. For photosynthesis to happen sunlight must reach the leaves. The maple also sports evidence of many previous pruning cuts that were made in an attempt to keep it under the overhang. Whoever planted this maple failed to consider it’s future size.
Magnolia x 2 future disaster
Check out this yard. It ooks OK. For now. Until you read the Magnolia tree tags still attached to the trees. Mature height somewhere around 25 meters. The owner has two in her small yard. Clearly, the lady loves her Magnolia flowers. That’s why she got one for each gate.
Gate access was an issue already. I took the liberty of making very minor heading cuts. The lady had a fit and called us what can politely be paraphrased as incompetent. I say, one day she’ll be begging for pruning as her patio becomes shaded and inaccessible. Branches are bound to hit the unit and its windows. Another failure to consider mature size.
Playing God with Quercus
This poor oak (Quercus) had no future under an overhang and between two units. So I played God and took it out. The tree would have lacked the space it needed to fulfill its genetic potential. Note also the rain line in the bottom right corner of the picture. The tree would have to depend on rain splash and resident watering.
Always consider the mature size of your plants before installing them.
