Acer Advice

GrannyFran · May 2023

Sorry seem to be having trouble posting this 🙄. Our Acer took a turn for the worse and was given a hard prune. It has some regrowth but is it time to admit defeat? Thanks in advance.

Fairygirl · May 2023

In what way do you think you're defeated?
It's recovering from some rather ungainly pruning, but that's about all.

When you prune, you need to look at the overall shape of the plant, and how you want it to look.
It's not quite the same as pollarding a tree, which is more like what's been done there. It'll gradually grow back, but it's always going to look ugly when dormant, unless it gets some better pruning/tidying later on.

GrannyFran · May 2023

A number of branches have no growth at all. Should they be removed?

Allotment Boy · May 2023

You can remove any obviously dead branches but if they add to the structural shape they can be left, they may aquire lichens or moss which could look good.
I agree it's been rather brutally hacked , it could take several seasons of careful shaping to get it looking reasonable again.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/04/05ojytof49a0.jpg

This is the sort of shape I would be aiming for. It looks natural but it has been pruned and shaped. I will tydy up some of the long extension growth but not do any major changes.

GrannyFran · May 2023

Thanks Allotment Boy that's really useful advice. Would it be ok to do some shaping now or is it best left until later in the season?

Fairygirl · May 2023

You can take off anything that's obviously dead - cut back to where it's about to be live tissue, then stop. There certainly looks as if there's a few dead branches to the right hand side. That may not be any better than it is just now though. It's not wise to cut back into live wood at this time of year when the plant is getting going and already has some good growth.
Otherwise, as @Allotment Boy says - best to wait, and to take some time getting it back to a good shape over a couple of years.

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