I've just purchased a red maple ('October Glory') to provide shade for our backyard. How far should I space trees from the house? Should I have any other concerns planting this time of year? A. The ...

Dear Neil: Do red maple seeds need to be scarified like the Texas mountain laurel seeds you described here a few weeks ago? A: No. Like most plants, their seed coats are not hard. Just plant them.

When you buy a bare root red maple tree to plant in your yard, it'll usually look more like a skinny stick than a towering shade tree. While it'll take time for it to reach maturity, it won't stay a ...