I have a dissectum (Velvet Viking) that is currently alone in a bed covered only in mulch. I’d like to add companion plants but I want to give the maple enough room to grow as healthily as possible. How close to the JM can I plant? Am I fine as long as I am outside the drip line? Or perhaps 1.5-2x the width of the drip line? I’m curious too if anyone has plants they think are especially cooperative or damaging as immediate neighbors. I’m thinking maybe scotch moss interspersed with little clumps of liriope or green ophiopogon. Further afield, I’m more comfortable adding in rhododendron, Japanese forest grass, etc. But it’s those immediate nextdoor neighbors that I’m concerned about - not wanting to invade the JM’s root zone. Thank you!
I've got stuff planted within a foot of most of mine. So long as the herbaceous stuff you plant is fairly drought tolerant for dry spells once it's established the acer should be fine - although acers are comparatively shallow rooted compared to some larger trees they do send roots down as well, so a few herbaceous things nearby wont affect the tree too much... more likely those plants will suffer more than the acer.
