We have a red maple (Acer rubrum) about 15 ft from the house, and aside from rather predictable gutter problems, it isn't an issue. We had a professional arborist look at the trees, and he was of the opinion that it might be an issue in about 60 or 70 years.

If you are serious about wanting to sit *under* the tree, you are looking at a substantially large tree. I'm not sure I've ever seen a Japanese maple I would be comfortable walking around underneath. The same is true of Japanese cherries.

Understand that tree scale is very different around here than in some other parts of the country. In a normal, established, residential neighborhood, the largest things are trees, not houses.

Thank you for the helpful advice ... it puts things into perspective. It's true, all the houses in the small residential neighborhoods here have large trees ... and as I look at the few Japanese maples in the area, they wouldn't work for what we need. Maybe in another part of the yard, another year, as a nice accent.
I think I'll take another look at the red maples the nurseries have to offer, and not fret so much about 60 years hence ... we can always have it pruned or replaced if it becomes to monstrous, just as we did with the other maple ... if we even stay in this house that many years.
Thanks again.

Why only one tree?

Plant a slower growing white oak in an area which will provide shade for the most summer sun exposed area of your house. Then find the kind of maple tree you like best and plant it where it can grow to shade the outdoor living areas in your back yard.

Do not worry about the yard being too small for these two trees mature sizes. There is a high percentage of chance that by the time the maple tree will need to be removed, from causing surface root problems or other such issues, at least your white oak tree should have matured enough to be providing some shade for the house. That is as long as the back side of your house faces West or Southwest

6000 sf isn't really a 'small' backyard. There are numerous trees that will work in that size space - two large-canopied trees easily with an understory. Take your time and look to see what is out there (lots of choices).

Dan

That is something good to think about ... we do have room for more than one tree, and the back side of our house does face the west.
I'm not quite sure about an oak though ... my memory of oaks is getting paid to fill paper grocery bags with acorns in my grandparents yard and dump them in the compost pile.
Thanks for the thought. I will look into it.

I guess our yard is a good size ... we have 1/3 acre ... and we love it ... but when the tree service cut down our maple, he said "These trees shouldn't be grown in small yards like yours." It kind of intimidated us to planting anything but "small" trees. Nevertheless, as I have been aptly reminded by many comments here, and I thank you for them, our yard really isn't that tiny, and there is a lot we can do. I just remembered that my neighbor is growing a white pine at the back of their property, so I don't know what I am worrying about. We do have a large white pine at the far back corner of our property, so there is shade there, but not until the afternoon. We love that tree even though it's huge (80' I'd guess).
The rest of the backyard is a blank canvas.
Thanks for all the suggestions ... we will look around more & consider all our choices & not be too hasty.
The thermometer said 98 today ... this shouldn't be until July !

Maybe its just not old enough, but our oak tree has never dropped acorns. If its a variety thing or maturity/pollinator thing I'm unsure, but no acorns. Its been in our yard about 15 years and was fairly large when planted.

Try shantung maple. It doesn't get too big. It seems to turn into "real" tree providing shade rather soon compared to others. Click on the picture to see the progress of growth since spring of 2006
{{gwi:345677}}Fire Dragon

Glad your not listening to that 'your yard is too small' nonsense. If that were true, my neighborhood would have no shade trees at all. My backyard is 50 x 80 and had two mature American elms when I moved in. Granted they would have done some damage if they fell. The neighbors did a few years back and took out a garage in the alley.

They got dutch elm disease a few years ago and the backyard just isn't the same. The beauty, serenity and sense of enclosure they provided was wonderful. Sure, if one day the right storm came along and the wind blew the right direction they would have hit the house, but the benefits sure outweighed the risks.

Shantung maple is an understory tree, and a very nice one at that. Shade trees to shade houses should be at least ~25-33% higher than Acer t. for maximum benefits. West-facing aspects should have at least one large tree for maximum benefits.

Dan

No, it's not really understory tree. It can reach 35 feet tall (eventually). It can tolerate full sun with no problem. They put it under shade tree category. The OP asked for small tree so I thought that might be a good tree. Trident maple is another one that can be used as small shade tree that can tolerate a lot of sun. Shantung maple is just that much tougher than Japanese maple. Down here in Texas, we call shantung maple a "tough" version of Japanese maple. It's on Texas Superstar list because it is very tough plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shantung maple

Thanks again to all for all the helpful information !
I will look into oaks (saw a Pin Oak at a nursery) ...
The Shantung Maple is beautiful ... I had never heard of it. Thank you for the nice pictures, lou midlothian tx.
I am not sure what's available around here, so that will figure in the decision. In any case, I have my "homework" cut out for me ... lots to look at & think about !
Thank you !

Lou, we'll have to agree to disagree. I like the tree very much but for obtaining the maximum benefits from a shade tree, Acer t. just doesn't get tall enough, the solar angle during summer is too great during max heating. Shading one-two story structures should be done - for maximum benefits (cooling, wind amelioration, property values) - by trees 45-50 ft or greater. Acer t. is great tree for under larger trees.

Dan

Sugar Maple

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Chestnut Oak (Q. montana) (alt. Q. prinus)

Bebb Oak (Q. bebbiana [Q. alba x macrocarpa])

Post Oak (Q. stellata)

Dan, how far from the house are we talking about? My backyard is only 35 feet deep. Same for the front. Granted, I have Bur oak, Mexican white oak and Nanjing Beauty taxodium hybrid that would eventually get large but you have to keep in mind that there will always be neighbors trying to kill your trees just because one of the branches hangs over the fence.. or golf ball sized acorns falling on their properties.. What about lawn? If you have a tree growing such a large size where there's not enough sun reaching the ground. I guess it's matter of preference. I prefer shade because it gets very hot for a long time in Texas...