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ACER Tree not budding

royamarleyroyamarley Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello, I wonder if anyone can help advice please, we moved into new house two years ago and this Acer was in full bloom but since hasn't budded for two springs, it doesn't appear to be dead as it is flowering at the bottom of the trunk, some of the branches are red and some look dead or grey.

I would love to save this tree.

Thanks
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If you want to see if a branch or twig is alive, scrape the bark with your thumbnail. If it's green underneath, it's alive.  No buds for two years doesn't sound at all hopeful.
    PS. Do you really mean flowers? 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If it's budding, and creating foliage [not flowers] at the base, it's probably coming from below the graft point.
    Most Acers are grafted, so if the top dies, the rootstock takes over, and it won't be the same as the top was.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • royamarleyroyamarley Posts: 3
    Thank you for your help, we have looked at a couple of branches and they are dead, is there anything we can do to save it if it is still alive at the root? Sorry I am a very beginner gardener.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you got a photo of the base where the budding is @royamarley?
    If the growth is coming from below the graft, that part will continue to grow, but if the part above the graft is dead, I'm afraid that won't grow back, and you'll have the situation I described. It doesn't mean you won't have a nice shrub/tree, but it will be different. You can cut back the branches higher up until you reach green growth, but if that means going right back to the graft point, then it means the top is dead. 

    The reason for them being grafted is that many are slow growing, and they're put on more vigorous rootstocks, or vice versa.   :)
    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
    As @Fairygirl says, whatever you manage to rescue will not be the same as the original plant. I would cut off the dead branches, keep it well watered and see if you like what emerges.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    the root stock will still grow into an attractive plant with good autumn colour. If it gets too big just prune it.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    They don't look like acer leaves @royamarley
    They look more like prunus which would explain why it's flowering. Do you have one of those trees nearby? It doesn't help the acer though I'm afraid.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think that's a different plant @Uff. I thought the same as you until I realised it's much further forward than the Acer. 
    We need to see the base of the Acer properly. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Yes I see that it's further away but still wondering if it's a sucker from a prunus. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Might well be @Uff :)
    It's quite a congested looking site, which can mean a lot of competition for water. If that Cordyline is happy, it's probably been far too dry for the Acer. 
    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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