I have just purchased two Acer Palmatums one yellow and one variegated, light/dark green. Am I correct in thinking that when planting in the garden after a good soaking, a mixture of ericaceous compost / grit and a light dressing of pelleted chicken manure would give it a good start in life or is the chicken manure only used as a feed in April after surface scraping and fresh compost ? Your advice would be most welcome. PJ
PJ4, if planting in the garden make sure you don't have alkaline soil as even if you mix ericaceous compost into soil, it won't last long. If your soil is alkaline (eg chalky or if you live in a limestone area), grow them in large pots instead.
Otherwise, prepare the planting hole well - time and effort spent on that will repay itself manifold in the future. Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the pots they came in, mix some well-rotted farmyard manure or homemade compost with the soil from the hole, add some ericaceous compost, grit and some blood, fish and bone fertiliser following the instructions on the pack. Plant them so the base of the trunk sits at precisely the same level in the ground as it did in the pot and in a position where they will not get a lot of wind or any early morning sun. Water them in well and once a week until the leaves fall in Autumn. They should then thrive without any further attention needed for many years.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
I bought an acer in a pot several weeks ago. It came in ericaceous soil and I wonder if I should leave in that when I put it in a larger pot or mix it with garden soil.
There are 2 free acers for the price of postage (£5.65) this month in the offers section on this site. OK, OK..... I know .... T & M but I have had no problem with them.
I have a Little Princess (mounding type) acer planted 15 tears agi in a hole in gravel and surrounded by a membrane to control weeds. Unfortunately I don't know if my late husband gave it fertiliser but an acer-grower recommended Osmacote. Is it too late in the year to apply this fertiliser now? Glebe 98
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This photo gives a better idea of the acer in with shrubs, at the back holly and spotted laurel . Shade from the cherry tree.
I have just purchased two Acer Palmatums one yellow and one variegated, light/dark green. Am I correct in thinking that when planting in the garden after a good soaking, a mixture of ericaceous compost / grit and a light dressing of pelleted chicken manure would give it a good start in life or is the chicken manure only used as a feed in April after surface scraping and fresh compost ? Your advice would be most welcome. PJ
I think it's best to leave the feed this late in the year, but everything else sounds good to me
PJ4, if planting in the garden make sure you don't have alkaline soil as even if you mix ericaceous compost into soil, it won't last long. If your soil is alkaline (eg chalky or if you live in a limestone area), grow them in large pots instead.
Otherwise, prepare the planting hole well - time and effort spent on that will repay itself manifold in the future. Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the pots they came in, mix some well-rotted farmyard manure or homemade compost with the soil from the hole, add some ericaceous compost, grit and some blood, fish and bone fertiliser following the instructions on the pack. Plant them so the base of the trunk sits at precisely the same level in the ground as it did in the pot and in a position where they will not get a lot of wind or any early morning sun. Water them in well and once a week until the leaves fall in Autumn. They should then thrive without any further attention needed for many years.
I bought an acer in a pot several weeks ago. It came in ericaceous soil and I wonder if I should leave in that when I put it in a larger pot or mix it with garden soil.
There are 2 free acers for the price of postage (£5.65) this month in the offers section on this site. OK, OK..... I know .... T & M but I have had no problem with them.
I have a Little Princess (mounding type) acer planted 15 tears agi in a hole in gravel and surrounded by a membrane to control weeds. Unfortunately I don't know if my late husband gave it fertiliser but an acer-grower recommended Osmacote. Is it too late in the year to apply this fertiliser now? Glebe 98