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Planting my acers

darren hansen 134darren hansen 134 Posts: 122
in Plants
Live in Cambridge.. England...when would be the best time to plant in the ground..and any tips on what will help them.. thanks

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can plant out potted specimens at any time @darren hansen 134 , as long as the ground isn't frozen. The other time to avoid is when ground is waterlogged, but you wouldn't be planting them in waterlogged ground anyway  ;)
    They need moisture, decent drainage, neutral to acidic soil, and dappled shade, to do their best. The purple/red ones get their best colour in sun, but you have to be careful about how much sun they're getting - there's a big difference between some afternoon sun in spring or autumn, with some protection from other planting, and an exposed site with searing midday heat in summer. The dissectums are always a little more susceptible, due to the nature of the foliage.
    Protection from wind is also needed to avoid damage to foliage. While it won't kill them, it's not attractive, and if it happens early on in the year, it can take time for it to be replaced. A position with some protection from early sun after frosts is also beneficial. 

    They don't need much in the way of feeding, assuming your soil is decent. A seaweed feed now and again will do no harm, but feeding the soil is better - mulching with leaf mould, compost, bark etc.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We found that virtually any exposure to hot sun in Summer (even for a few hours a day), scorched our Acers. We ended up getting rid of all of them, except a very mature disectum that was planted 30/40 years ago by a previous owner, and which suffers no scorching at all. 

    If I were to plant an Acer again (not likely), then I would plant it in total shade, and accept that it might mean less dramatic foliage colouring. Even Spring and Autumn sunshine where we live can be very hot, and it's getting worse due to climate change, so for our garden at least, Acers are now sadly no go.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's a shame @KeenOnGreen, but it's the old adage isn't it - right plant, right place.
    You can't alter what comes out of the sky, or the temperature, and in very dry parts of the country, keeping them moist enough is difficult too. 
    I'm hoping the weird, record breaking weather we had here through last year was a temporary aberration. 

    Our climate here [usually!] is ideal for them but even full sun in summer can be far too much for certain ones if it's for too long, so it's always better to go for dappled shade, or shade, through the hottest part of the day, from fences/walls etc, if dappled shade isn't possible.
    It's why it can be easier if they're in pots, simply because you can move them around. Some can cope with it better - the dark palmatums are probably the easiest in that sense.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    My advice would be to be aware that, if they are happy, some of them can get very big. Check out the expected size before you plant it out.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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