Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Where are my Acer leaves?

JenKentJenKent Posts: 53
in Problem solving
I have dark red acer which is about 4ft tall. It's about 6 years old, but I like to keep it compact.  I pruned back in middle March and cut off some of the chunkier lower branches.  The top now has a very small amount of leaves in the middle with new growth appearing just above soil level.  However, I could count the leaves on two hands at the moment.  There appear to be plenty of tiny buds, but they're not doing anything and look brown. I have pinched a couple off and they appear to be dry and dead.  My neighbour has the same acer of about the same size and hers is full of leaves.  I hope my all over pruning hasn't ruined it; or could it be because the weather has been so cold this spring?

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Pruning acers usually results in something very ugly or very dead. Since your did so while it wasn't dormant, maybe the sap bled from it and has weakened the plant overall? Can you add a picture so we get an idea of the extent of the pruning? If any pruning is needed the only time to do it is in the winter or very early spring. Despite the horrible weather we've had all acers would have a full canopy by now. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Cold weather in itself is not a problem. I would agree with @amancalledgeorge. I think the damage has likely been done by pruning at the wrong time.

    It's not exactly warm in this part of the country, and this year has been slightly colder than usual, but all Acers I see every day when out, are fully foliaged up, as is mine, and mine is a more delicate, quite young, dissectum variety in a pot.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JenKentJenKent Posts: 53
    Thanks.  Sorry, can't do photos - I don't have the necessary phone/camera for photos & downloading.  Anyway, I've inspected the lower half of the acer and can see little nodules sprouting on the older branches and trunk.  The growth at just above soil level is nice and strong.  So I'm going to leave it alone throughout the summer (even if it's bald!) and see what the new growth does.  If it makes nice new branches by next winter, I shall prune away all the old branches above the new growth and hope that rejuvenates it by next spring.  It will be good deal shorter, but if I leave it alone for a couple of years it might look something like it should. That'll teach me not to get secateur-happy and know when to stop!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just be aware - most Acers are grafted, so if there's new growth from below the graft, it won't be the variety that's growing, it'll be the rootstock. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.