Upon further investigation, it seems that the roots beneath the pot are quite well established and widely spread. Which leads me to suspect that the tree is getting its nutrients and water from the soil beneath?
Is there a short term solution? Could I protect the top of the pot to prevent a build up of water and therefore ice over the winter?
Is there a long term solution? My other acer, which doesn't have a drainage problem also seems to have quite well established root system beneath the pot.
You could break the pot and remove the pieces then create a little raised bed (to the same height as the top of the soil in the pot) around the tree. The problem is that the tree roots have grown through the holes in the bottom of the pot and blocked them, so the pot no longer has any drainage. As the roots grow more, they will eventually strangle themselves at the point they pass through the holes in the pot. Leaving it like that will likely kill the tree. I strongly recommend sacrificing the pot and then either building the raised bed around it, or digging the whole thing out and planting it in the garden at the proper level.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
You say that the soil is waterlogged beneath the pot? If the ground is not frozen are you able to dig down beside the pot, take out all the wet soil and replace with ericaceous mixed with gravel/stones etc to create better drainage.
This might see it through the Winter and then if you have to cut the roots in the Spring the tree will have a better chance of making it through.
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You obviously misunderstood the message Verdun - you were supposed to be putting new tyres on my convertible
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks everyone who has responded! I know what I'm going to be doing today!
Upon further investigation, it seems that the roots beneath the pot are quite well established and widely spread. Which leads me to suspect that the tree is getting its nutrients and water from the soil beneath?
Is there a short term solution? Could I protect the top of the pot to prevent a build up of water and therefore ice over the winter?
Is there a long term solution? My other acer, which doesn't have a drainage problem also seems to have quite well established root system beneath the pot.
You could break the pot and remove the pieces then create a little raised bed (to the same height as the top of the soil in the pot) around the tree. The problem is that the tree roots have grown through the holes in the bottom of the pot and blocked them, so the pot no longer has any drainage. As the roots grow more, they will eventually strangle themselves at the point they pass through the holes in the pot. Leaving it like that will likely kill the tree. I strongly recommend sacrificing the pot and then either building the raised bed around it, or digging the whole thing out and planting it in the garden at the proper level.
Thanks for the reply Bob.
You say that the soil is waterlogged beneath the pot? If the ground is not frozen are you able to dig down beside the pot, take out all the wet soil and replace with ericaceous mixed with gravel/stones etc to create better drainage.
This might see it through the Winter and then if you have to cut the roots in the Spring the tree will have a better chance of making it through.