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Acer help!

B_leafB_leaf Posts: 42
in Problem solving
Hi,
I bought some Acer's round about march and now they have grow to the extent that they are touching the ground, with a severe bend, if it rains for a while.
Should i be pruning them back somewhat or is this normal?
Also, i have them in a seven inch diameter pot, should i be thinking of transplanting them or putting them in the ground?

Thanks
"Life is what happens to you, whilst you're busy gardening!"
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends on how recently they've been repotted. They don't need done very often, and it's better not to have the next pot size much bigger, to avoid fine roots being waterlogged while re establishing. 
    Not a good time to prune either. Do you have a photo? 
    Some are naturally that shape, ie - low growing and spreading,  depending on the variety too, although they can also be pruned to achieve that shape as well.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B_leafB_leaf Posts: 42
    Thank you Fairygirl, here is a photo as requested
    "Life is what happens to you, whilst you're busy gardening!"
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think they're fine for now. The dark palmatum will probably make quite a big  specimen eventually. Those grow at a reasonably good rate too. 
    You can prune them in late autumn/winter, but it's probably worth waiting to let them develop a bit more. Not all the stems will grow at exactly the same time, so you don't want to chop something off and then find that a few more stems grow which would have balanced it up!
    They would probably be better in the ground, assuming you have room to let them develop into full size. There's nothing worse than seeing them not given a good spot to develop and show off. 
    Just make sure they don't get too hot in those pots - even up here those can heat up a bit in strong sun. If you have them in a shady spot, they should be ok. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd put them in bigger pots . The branches wouldn't touch the ground and you could decide about shaping next year.
    Although I might do something about that sticky-out red branch, the other tree is a nice shape.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I'd not prune them at all till they're a couple of years older and their shape becomes clearer.   I have one small one that has completely transformed its size and shape this year since I planted it out in the soil in May.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B_leafB_leaf Posts: 42
    Ok thanks. So they're in pots just now, if i put them in the ground will they not be even lower, with the branches lying on the ground?
    I hate to be a pest but I've done some silly things whilst learning like, put a geranium in the middle of a pot then surrounded it with plants that grew much larger lol, so now i think asking for help from you seasoned gardeners is the way forward  ;)

    Thanks again.
    "Life is what happens to you, whilst you're busy gardening!"
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    My acers have been in pots all their lives, apart from one which I planted in the ground, then had to dig it up when we moved house. I'd put yours in bigger pots, in ericaceous compost now, as the ones they are in are out grown.  I also planted one of mine in its forever pot from the one it came in and it has done extremely well. As to pruning, don't.  One of mine was growing a bit strangely having travelled 700 miles north and living in a different climate. A professional told me to cut bits off and it is now a lump! The ones I haven't touched are a beautiful, natural shape. All I do now is cut off any bits of dieback . Mine were like yours when I bought them. 15 years on, they are about 5 feet tall.
  • B_leafB_leaf Posts: 42
    what size pots should i use, assuming i'm never going to move them again?
    "Life is what happens to you, whilst you're busy gardening!"
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    For now about 3-4x the size of the pots they're currently in would be fine. You'll have to pot them on again but it's not a good idea to pot them into the size of pot you'd need for a fully mature plant.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    You need to pot them on slowly. Potting them into their eventual pot, is a bad idea, it will leave lots of compost around the pot to go stagnant.
    Ideally they should only be potted on slowly. [ 4X is too big. ]
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

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