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Acer Griseum

We planted a paperbark maple tree in our garden last year. It is a young tree, single stem about 6ft tall. It got a little damaged in transit and as a result we had no growth on one side of the tree last year. Im wondering is there any way of encouraging/stimulating new growth on that side. I have heard of some method of making a cut below a branch but I would be unsure if that would apply in this situation or to this variety of tree. I am afraid of damaging the tree more. I would really appreciate any advice on this matter. Thank you 😊 

Posts

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    @Lorns  I believe you can do this with Acers.  It’s called notching, and you can Google or look on YouTube for videos on how to do it.  Thank you for asking about this, as we have a lopsided Acer, and I had forgotten that I saw an item on GW a few years ago about this technique.  

    I’m going to try on our Acer (half mangled by our puppy, who loved chewing the branches !). 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think you need to give it some time.
    It's barely settled in and the first thing it will concentrate on is producing a good root system for a year or so.
    Once it's done that, it will be stronger and able to support more upper growth and only then will it really get underway.
    Then hopefully you'll get bud break on the bare side.

    I know notching is done on fruit trees, but I'm not sure it's a good idea on an acer as they bleed from cuts unless it's the dead of winter.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Just posted this link on another thread, watch through a bit and you will see a demo of the notching technique, maybe worth bookmarking until the right time, as @Pete.8 says:

    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • LornsLorns Posts: 9
    Thanks you all so much for the advice and info. I think a wait and see approach is probably best so. It hasn’t been planted very long really, a bit of patience needed. Something I am not overly blessed with 😅. I will definitely research the notching technique more if it keeps growing lopsided in the future. Thanks for the link Nollie. I will save that one! 
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