My laptop won't let me do it for some reason. That happens occasionally and I've no idea why. Sorry @AnnaB. Most acers get some little dead 'ends' to branches and stems but it isn't usually a problem. Mine has quite a few but I haven't got round to snipping them yet. The small, new one has quite a lot too. I'll get around to it some time
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you @pitter-patter. And thank you @Fairygirl, the one on the left is actually in a dustbin but already sweeping the ground with its branches and leaves, the one on the right is still in a large pot. Will think about 'upsizing' it next winter. Love my acers and have lots of smaller ones coming along.
I'd appreciate some guidance for caring for my Acer. I'll attach a bunch of pictures below.
I'd like to know if my Acer is ok or not. It has got a lot of seemingly dead branches. The pictures below are after I cut a good 10 small to medium size branches from the middle of it which is why the middle looks a little naked. However, it seems like there are far too many dead-looking branches. Is it fair to assume that a branch is dead as soon as it goes lighter? Also how about some of the more light green-looking branches? Could you also zoom in on the picture at the top of the Acer and let me know if they are all dead or not? The top seems like a tangled mess and I don't know what to do with it.
Should I wait for spring to do more pruning, once I know for sure that a branch is dead?
Acers do not like being pruned. They naturally seem to produce dead ends each year which can be nipped of each Spring when the new leaves break. I would be inclined to leave well alone until later when the new buds begin breaking, it will be obvious then which branches are dead. T Trim any white stems back to a new bud and think of your work as thinning and shaping rather than pruning. Last seasons weather has been a trial for Acres, extended dry, cold, wind and recently, very cold so a lot of them will be needing to be tidied up in a month or twos time. Acers are hard work to keep happy when grown in containers, depending on size, they need a lot of water, hate exposed sunny positions or windy corners and do not like being waterlogged. If you stroke the leaves of them you will feel just how delicate the actual leaves are compared to many other garden plants. They are really fragile.
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Most acers get some little dead 'ends' to branches and stems but it isn't usually a problem. Mine has quite a few but I haven't got round to snipping them yet. The small, new one has quite a lot too. I'll get around to it some time
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Nice specimens @AnnaB - I meant to say that earlier.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Acers do not like being pruned. They naturally seem to produce dead ends each year which can be nipped of each Spring when the new leaves break. I would be inclined to leave well alone until later when the new buds begin breaking, it will be obvious then which branches are dead. T
Trim any white stems back to a new bud and think of your work as thinning and shaping rather than pruning.
Last seasons weather has been a trial for Acres, extended dry, cold, wind and recently, very cold so a lot of them will be needing to be tidied up in a month or twos time.
Acers are hard work to keep happy when grown in containers, depending on size, they need a lot of water, hate exposed sunny positions or windy corners and do not like being waterlogged. If you stroke the leaves of them you will feel just how delicate the actual leaves are compared to many other garden plants. They are really fragile.