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Acer palmatum

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's mainly because I'm doing indoor jobs while I was waiting for the weather to improve so that I can go for my walk!
    If you can manage the photos, that will help enormously. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I'm missing my walks as I broke a rib on Boxing Day... hope you can get out soon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You have my sympathy re the ribs, although it didn't stop me walking. I broke 'some' when I ripped my rotator cuff on a slide down a frozen hill 4 years ago. The ribs were more painful than the rotator cuff injury because I had to sleep propped up. 
    Such is life  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ouch. They are painful, aren't they? I've sort of lost confidence, hopefully temporarily, as I'm a big walker.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited January 2023
    Re your acer @susiebower, there's nothing you can do now except wait and see where/if buds burst in spring.  Then you prune back to just above them.  It might be a good idea to weed round the base and apply a good thick mulch as soon as you are able as that will help retain moisture over the summer.

    I had a sango kaku in my last garden and winters often got down to -20C so there was always frost damage and grey bits but not the droughts we've had lately.   I've planted another in this garden in a little group of acers against a north facing wall so sheltered from blazing midday sun.  As they are recent plantings I do water them thru droughts.  I haven't checked for frost damage yet as there's no point really till bud burst.

    In my experience ribs take 6 weeks to heal.  Good luck.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Aw, thank you @Obelixx! That's helpful - will wait and see, and when I can will add some bark chippings and weed around it. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm sure your confidence will return @susiebower. Small steps-  literally  :)
    As @Obelixx says - little dead grey bits on Acers are normal, and you can take them off later, but try to avoid cutting back too far at that point. Most pruning gets done over winter, but it's possible to take any of those dead pieces off later without any real harm  being done, as long as that's all it is  :)
    I had a look at one of mine the other day, just because I was nearby, and it has several little bits and bobs of dead ends, but they'll stay there for now. That's where it's useful when they're in pots, as they can be moved into a sheltered spot before winter. It's a dissectum so it gets damaged by cold winds too. I keep it sheltered during midday sun as well as from strong winds.  

    My ribs were cracked on the left, but the rotator cuff damage was on the right, so I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Much like when I did the damage  ;)
    I think they were ok after about 8 weeks, although they weren't a problem by them - just the odd twinge. I was back out hillwalking by then, and doing my physio exercises on the hills as well. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • @Fairygirl that injury must have been so painful! It's bad enough on one side, let alone both! And thanks re the confidence thing and the baby steps. :)  Yes, my acer has those grey end bits, like die-back, and I'm not so worried about them. I think I'll wait until spring and see what happens. It was useful to know that I shouldn't see any buds yet - thanks! 
  • When I broke my ribs my GP told me not to laugh, cough, sneeze or breathe! Thanks Doc.
  • @Joyce Goldenlily  Haha - that about sums it up! Hope yours are better now!
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