Found the tree.

 This is where they decided to move it. Still not an ideal spot. That is a small patio area behind it and to the left a bit and back is another Liquidambar tree. I don't know if they intend to plant them there, but when I see one of the guys I will definitely advise against even keeping it on the ground. This is the Norfolk Island Pine, people are familiar with it around Christmas time. They can get 60+ tall and about 15-20' wide. I heard the popping of roots when they were digging it a few days ago which means it had likely grown through the wooden pot and into the ground. That is my cat Rocky on our morning walk, he had to check out the new thing in 'his' yard.

 

Whenever you want to plant something, think of a puppy. It isn't going to stay that size forever. Most plants have an information tag on them somewhere and if not, look it up! There is a wonderful free phone app called LeafSnap. You can take a picture of a leaf, flower or bark of a plant then hit search. It will come up with several suggestions but beware..the first hit isn't usually the right one. Me knowing plants can tell what it isn't, I was in Balboa Park yesterday and saw a pair of palm trees that I had forgotten the name of. Beautiful huge silvery blue green fronds and I had learned it decades ago when I took plant ID in college, one of my favorite palm trees and I have very few. Took a picture of it on the app and the first hit was definitely not it. Second choice was correct, Bismarckia nobilis:

The ones in the park were almost full grown, about 60 feet. 

So back on point, knowing how big your plant is going to get, height and width, any root problems (another topic entirely), are what you also want to consider along with sun and water requirements. Also when directions on something says 'plant 12 inches apart' that is technically what is called 'center to center' on the plant, on planting designs it's termed '12" on center' not the width from the edge of the leaves. So when you want to plant a boxwood hedge, and you have about ten feet to cover which sounds like a long distance, most are about the same growth habit width wise EVENTUALLY (another topic) get 4 feet wide. That is two feet either side of the center generally speaking. So if you want a solid hedge without too much crowding you would plant them....3 feet apart. Why not 4? Why not 2? 

Here's the deal:  If your plant has roughly 2 feet on either side and you want a solid wall, you plant a little less than the total width in order for it to grow together. If you plant too close it crowds the branches and creates dead zones, if you plant too far apart you'll get a bumpy uneven look. Back to your hedge length; given that math you would think you'd need four for a 10 foot hedge right? Nope, think about the ends. You want to give the branches room to fill out at the ends without encroaching on the sidewalk or whatever so you back it in about two feet. Start your count from there and you only need 3. Graphic for those visually keyed. 

'Please excuse my crude model'. But this is likely closer to what a planting would turn out to be. Plants aren't going to turn out cookie cutter perfect but they will be close to the size you need. My notes on the size it may get follows.

Now what happens when the size given is a range? That means in ideal untrimmed conditions it will usually grow to the larger size. Most people heat that and say, 'I don't want something that big!' Then don't let it! It's not a dog where you're stuck with a Great Dane! Plants can be trimmed and shaped good lord people! Also the conditions it is grown in will obviously have an effect on their growth and health. 

Decades ago I decided I wanted to grow some wildflowers in a planter bed next to a driveway. Threw the seeds out there and whatever came up was good. I got california poppies, cornflower, zinnias and cosmos among other things. They were all spindly, the cosmos only grew to about two or three feet and everything performed the way it was supposed to with the minimum care I was giving it. I saw a cosmos bed some years later and the flowers were five feet tall! The seemed to be the same colors and variety I had and wondered what the heck? I had barely amended the soil, wasn't feeding them and barely watered them which stunted their growth. Ideal conditions produce better plants, just like people and animals. 

So once again, care and feeding properly makes a huge difference on how well something grows and thrives. Too much of anything is also bad and possibly fatal. More on that another time.