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Acer Shirasawanum Jordan - leaf burn?

jp.wilkinsjp.wilkins Posts: 2
in Problem solving

Hi all,

This is my first post and I'd be most grateful if you can assist me.

My wife and I recently bought a beautiful Acer Shirasawanum Jordan tree from our local garden centre and are growing it in a pot in our south-facing courtyard garden. Being very compact with a 12 foot fence at the rear, the garden is fairly sheltered with around half of it in shade at any given point in the day, with most of it receiving a dose of sunshine as the sun journeys across the sky. Our Acer is protected from some of the sunshine by the surrounding fences, but the leaves at the top have experienced fairly consistent sunshine as they remain exposed to the sun whichever angle it's coming from. Moreover, while there is a certain amount of shelter from wind, we've noticed it can still get quite blustery when the weather picks up.

We bought this particular variety not just because we love the way it looks, but because we understood that it can tolerate full sun if kept well-watered. However, advice online seems to be inconsistent on this, so we're not 100% sure.

Lately we've been noticing what we assume is leaf scorch, mostly on the upper leaves, but there's also some browning on some of the leaves around the middle of the tree. We understand this can be caused by a number of environmental factors (wind, too little water, too much water, too much sun), all of which are realistic possibilities with the prolonged periods of scorching sunshine and rain storms we've had recently. So we're not quite sure how to react, or which factor, or combination of factors, is responsible. I've provided pictures of the problem areas below, as well as a picture of the whole tree. I've also provided a picture of our garden as taken from an upstairs window, so you can see it's position in the garden.

What we'd like a bit of advice on, if you'd be so kind, is the following:

  • Can this variety of Acer tolerate full sun?

  • Does this look like leaf scorch to you? If not, what do you suspect it is?

  • What do you think is the most likely cause?

  • Is this normal, or should we be concerned?

  • What measures, if any, should we take to address this?

Please forgive the length of this post - we just want to do right by the tree. Thanks very much for reading if you got this far, and thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

John-Paul

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    It looks like a very high walled in space, so wonder if the wind does pick up in velocity because of the high sides of the space. The damage does look wind related to me. Most acers can deal with some direct sun, the darker varieties more so. So can't imagine it gets too much sun, but really can't see how you can resolve the wind tunnel effect the space may create. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree - a bit of wind damage. Nothing to worry about really - just cosmetic. 

    The green ones can look worse because you see it against the foliage more easily. The dark ones need a bit of sun to get the best colour, but ideally, they all prefer a bit of dappled shade, especially if they're potted, as it's harder for them to stay well hydrated. 
    Easier for them to maintain moisture levels in the ground. Terracotta or clay pots absorb a lot of moisture too, so you might be better with a glazed pot  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Acers in pots need watering daily in hot weather.  Even in open ground they need water every few days if there is no rain. If you are worried about waterloging, then put the pot up so it drains.
    AB Still learning

  • jp.wilkinsjp.wilkins Posts: 2
    Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Your comments are very helpful and reassuring. We had wondered about the potential wind tunnel effect that the row of back gardens (we're in a row of six terraces) might create. And there has been a lot of stormy weather recently.

    We'll definitely take all your comments on board, including making sure she's getting enough water. We're also trying to think of practical ways to add more wind cover. Hopefully we can get the balance right. Thanks again for your advice. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It can be quite difficult to mitigate the effects of wind funnelling into a garden, unless there's room to have a windbreak. Probably not possible for your site though.  :)
    Perhaps you could work out the shadiest spot - especially shade from the sun during the hottest part of the day - and move it to that site for spring and summer. That might save the worst of the damage at least. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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