Ihave a small Acer which has got new branches but has grown almost vertical this year instead of the usual. What is wrong with it,s lot of the leaves at the edges are also serrated . Please help.
It's almost impossible to offer advice with so little info @Julie168. Many Acers have quite upright growth, especially when they put on a spurt of growth. That will also depend on variety, how it's being grown [pot or ground] what care it's had, and what your climate is like and what aspect it's in re moisture/sun/shade. The leaf edges will also be dependent on the variety, and how mature it is. There's probably a little weather damage there too, but it doesn't look major.
Photos of the whole plant will help
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you fairygirl I don't know what variety this is as it was in the garden when we moved in 5 years ago. It's in the ground,fed and watered regularly. The new growth doesn't arch like the rest of the plant . You will have to forgive me as I'm not technically minded. Downloaded pic of tree itself but only got one of the leaf,lol XXX will try again . I live in East Midlands.
2 branches are in question ,one above the graft and the other more or less level with it...do I just cut them off, the latter branch is really quite thick.
The one above the graft should be the same as the 'original' plant. The other one could be from the rootstock, which can be a quicker growing specimen. Is the lower branch of new growth the one that looks different in shape, or do both the branches look different? The newer stuff doesn't look radically different to me. You can always leave the new growth to see how it develops, as sometimes the leaf shape alters a little as it grows and matures. I wouldn't want you to rush in and chop anything off yet!
It's also possible that it's two totally different plants, but if you can see that all the growth is coming from one main stem, that would rule that out.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
May I suggest you mark the odd branches with a ribbon...now. Then when your Acer loses all the leaves this autumn and is bare you can see exactly which branches need to be removed.
As Fairygirl has said most Acers are grafted onto Acer palmatum which are grown from seed...so are VERY varied.They could have green leaves or red...be very ordinary or have dissected leaves. Be upright or weeping.
Later a special named Acer is then grafted on and the original seed grown branches removed. The roots should not grow branches, but occasionally it can do this. This is probably what has happened to your tree.
You could even end up with special Acer on top, very slow, with weeping habit, green/white/pink variegated, tiny, dissected leaves and a fast growing upright one with large red leaves growing from below the graft. Or any other weird combination.
Glad you looked in @Silver surfer -I was thinking of tagging your name to see if you could offer any other advice You have far more experience of Acers than I do, although I've had several in various gardens.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl and silversurfer thank you very much for all your comments. I will do as suggested and put ribbon on both these branches and have a look when it is leafless. Thank you again 😊 x
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Many Acers have quite upright growth, especially when they put on a spurt of growth. That will also depend on variety, how it's being grown [pot or ground] what care it's had, and what your climate is like and what aspect it's in re moisture/sun/shade. The leaf edges will also be dependent on the variety, and how mature it is. There's probably a little weather damage there too, but it doesn't look major.
Photos of the whole plant will help
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It may be coming from below the graft. Most Acers are grafted.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is the lower branch of new growth the one that looks different in shape, or do both the branches look different? The newer stuff doesn't look radically different to me.
You can always leave the new growth to see how it develops, as sometimes the leaf shape alters a little as it grows and matures.
I wouldn't want you to rush in and chop anything off yet!
It's also possible that it's two totally different plants, but if you can see that all the growth is coming from one main stem, that would rule that out.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Then when your Acer loses all the leaves this autumn and is bare you can see exactly which branches need to be removed.
As Fairygirl has said most Acers are grafted onto Acer palmatum which are grown from seed...so are VERY varied.They could have green leaves or red...be very ordinary or have dissected leaves. Be upright or weeping.
Later a special named Acer is then grafted on and the original seed grown branches removed. The roots should not grow branches, but occasionally it can do this.
This is probably what has happened to your tree.
You could even end up with special Acer on top, very slow, with weeping habit, green/white/pink variegated, tiny, dissected leaves and a fast growing upright one with large red leaves growing from below the graft. Or any other weird combination.
You have far more experience of Acers than I do, although I've had several in various gardens.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...