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Acer dieback? Should I prune?

Hello!

I have an acer atropurpureum that is about 3-4ft high. I bought and plnated it just under 2 years ago. Last year it had a really lovely display and looked really strong.

I checked on it recently and found that it appears have dieback, including on one of the main stems. However, the stem still seems to have healthy growth on the tip of the branch.

Should I prune back the whole stem to beginning of the dieback, or leave it to see if new growth still appears in spring?

Pictures to follow. Thanks for your help.

Posts

  • djgrintdjgrint Posts: 34

  • djgrintdjgrint Posts: 34
    Sorry the pictures are not very clear. The close ups show the area of a main stem that appears to have died, but there is healthly growth below and above?
  • Usually when a stem or branch is that pale, it's dead so no point in leaving it on the plant. However you say there is live tissue above that so I would wait now to see if you get any bud break.  If you do then great if not and it's really dead it won't hurt to cut it off later as they'll be no sap in it to "bleed". 
    Remember the old wisdom once cut you can't put it back.
    AB Still learning

  • djgrintdjgrint Posts: 34
    Thanks.

    What would cause an acer to dieback like this? It is just natural wear and tear, or should I be aiming to improve its conditions?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It could be lots of things. Climate/weather is often a cause -frosts hitting new growth for example, which then isn't dealt with. Poor drainage. Although they need a lot of moisture, they aren't happy sitting in soggy soil long term.
    Too much sun affecting growth and causing some stem damage, and then dying back,  and again not being removed. 
    Damage from wind creating the same situation. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • djgrintdjgrint Posts: 34
    How should we deal with frost hitting new growth?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2022
    You can't, unless you want your garden covered in fleece, but that dead growth can be carefully removed later, as long as you don't go back into the healthy parts of the stems/branches  :)
    It's one of the main advantages of growing in pots as you can move them according to the seasons and the location/site. It's also why dappled shade is the best location for them - it helps protect them from all sorts of severe weather at certain times.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • djgrintdjgrint Posts: 34
    An update on this tree.

    The dieback has continued to the point where I've lost half of the tree. It's bizarre because the other half appears to be doing well. Lots of new growth coming through this spring.

    I've lost the equivalent of all the current healthy plant on the other side over the last year.

    My once beautiful tree is now hopelessly lopsided. Is there any hope for it, or will the dieback eventually consume the whole tree? :(
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