I have bamboo growing in my back yard and two red japanese trees that I want to transplant. Should I keep them far away in distance?

Answer #1 · John Heider's Answer · Hi Mary-Knowing some other information would help in answering your question. Whether the Japanese maple and bamboo should be planted together or not even in the same garden with each other would depend on a few things.
Many bamboos (Clumping Bamboo) stay confined too the area which they were first planted, and usually are not considered invasive. Running bamboos are extremely invasive and have the ability to spread over wide areas. These bamboos underground stems or rhizomes could be harmfull to your maples when intertwined with the maples root system creating damage and competing for water and nutrients.

The type of japanese maple will determine the size of its root system and the amount of direct sunlight or shade it needs. The smaller or dwarf varieties of japanese maple will have a smaller root system and most likely if a laceleaf will require afternoon shade. The best time to transplant the japanese maple is during winter when they are dormant.
Both bamboo and japanese maples go well together in gardens and are perfect for Japanese and Asian Gardens as long as they are both compatible.

Do you know what type of bamboo is growing in your yard? What variety of japanese maple do you want to transplant? Does the area get direct sunlight or shade at times during the day and how much? If you are not sure of these questions you can upload pictures of your plants that will help myself and others identify the plants. Above this answer and to the right of your name, next to Edit Your Question, you will see where to upload your pictures.

John)