"Matt" wrote in message
m...
We would like to add a couple of trees to our landscape. We wanted to
plant
a weeping higan cherry tree and a japanese maple in two different
locations
near our house. Is 3 feet from the house too close? What is minimum
distance we should maintain from the house? Do these trees grow deep or
shallow roots? How wide will the roots spread?
thanks,
Matt

3 feet is too close - you need to allow sufficient room for both trees to
develop normal canopy spread without encountering any obstructions like the
side or roof of your house. Neither tree is a huge spreader, canopy-wise so
you CAN plant them close - just not that close. Cherries tend to have a lot
of surface roots, as do J. maples, but neither have so invasive a root
system as to be a concern with the house foundation - they will simply grow
around obstacles or along the side. FYI, tree roots can spread a good
distance. As a rule of thumb, figure 2-3 times the width of the mature tree
canopy.

pam - gardengal