We’ve just noticed our Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum looks like it’s dying. There are some new buds on it, but other branches and buds appear to have died. It’s been in place for 18 months and we haven’t previously had any other problems with it. I’ve scratched the bark lightly on a few small areas where it looks dead, and there is no green visible below. Please can you help. Thanks
This looks like the effects of a fungal disease called verticillium wilt. To make certain you'd need to cut out some of the dead wood and check for a black ring on the cross-section and black marks down the stem under the outer bark.
I have this on my own acer. It's been attacking the plant every year and I try to prune out the affected growth back to clean wood where possible in winter. In spite of this, my plant is growing pretty well. I can't see a lot of healthy wood on yours, though, so you may not be able to rescue it. Some varieties seem a lot more susceptible than others, I don't know why. Perhaps a specialist Acer nursery would be able to advise you on a replacement?
It's not all that difficult to spot which areas of the plant are still healthy--either with the 'bark chip test' you've just used, or less invasively by simply looking closely at where the new leaf buds are red and shining, and where they are dull and brown--in the latter case, the branch is dead and you will have to trace it back to see where to cut.
This looks like the effects of a fungal disease called verticillium wilt. To make certain you'd need to cut out some of the dead wood and check for a black ring on the cross-section and black marks down the stem under the outer bark.
I have this on my own acer. It's been attacking the plant every year and I try to prune out the affected growth back to clean wood where possible in winter. In spite of this, my plant is growing pretty well. I can't see a lot of healthy wood on yours, though, so you may not be able to rescue it. Some varieties seem a lot more susceptible than others, I don't know why. Perhaps a specialist Acer nursery would be able to advise you on a replacement?
It's not all that difficult to spot which areas of the plant are still healthy--either with the 'bark chip test' you've just used, or less invasively by simply looking closely at where the new leaf buds are red and shining, and where they are dull and brown--in the latter case, the branch is dead and you will have to trace it back to see where to cut.
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I'd leave it alone until new growth starts. Then you'll see for sure which parts are dead.
I have this on my own acer. It's been attacking the plant every year and I try to prune out the affected growth back to clean wood where possible in winter. In spite of this, my plant is growing pretty well. I can't see a lot of healthy wood on yours, though, so you may not be able to rescue it. Some varieties seem a lot more susceptible than others, I don't know why. Perhaps a specialist Acer nursery would be able to advise you on a replacement?
It's not all that difficult to spot which areas of the plant are still healthy--either with the 'bark chip test' you've just used, or less invasively by simply looking closely at where the new leaf buds are red and shining, and where they are dull and brown--in the latter case, the branch is dead and you will have to trace it back to see where to cut.
Most of them are grafted and there would usually be more trunk.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border