Choosing Acers
chicken chaser
Posts: 147
We have 2 Acers which we bought years ago in our garden. Both have been grown in pots. One has a bush like habit and is probably less than 2ft high with yellowy green foliage, the other around 4ft high with darker foliage and more tree like. Unfortunately the variety was forgotten about a while back!
They've been great additions to the garden and I've considered planting them out however we have clay soil. Does anyone else have success with them in clay?
I'm also looking at getting a couple of new Acres into the garden, and wondered if anyone could advise?
We are looking for one with Crimson foliage, but I can't decide on which one. Will be in a fair amount of sun in a sheltered spot. Considered 'Bloodgood' and 'Atropupureum' variety but not sure what to pick.
Im also keen on a 'Sango Kaku' due to its colour and height but again I'm unsure how well it will take to clay? There are some large specimens at our local nursery which would be a great feature but would hate to lose it.
Posts
I have Acers and clay soil. They need moist soil, so as long as you improve the soil before planting - mixing in compost, bark and the like to make it loose then they will be fine. They do fine in full sun as long as the roots are damp.
It is wind damage that causes most problems for Acers, so pick a sheltered spot.
As to cultivator then what you like is what you should but. I would say Atropupureum is a strong type and one that I would recommend.
If I was to add an Acer then I would go for 'Bi Ho' which has an interesting trunk and stem in winter.
If it's wind damage which is a problem with acers that's one crossed off my list of possibles. The rear 'garden' is a wind tunnel and the front one is full frontal.
Try Sambucus 'black lace'. It is looks like a red Acer palmatum dissectum and is wind tolerant and very hardy.
I'm considering purchasing an Acer at the moment. I'm looking at Acer Palmatum Katsura, does anyone have any experience of growing this particular variety. It would be in a sheltered spot and in light shade for most of the day.
I have killed more than my fair share of Acers Yviestevie but Katsura is the one that I has always done well for me. Leaves go a wonderful sunset yellow in autumn - which is what Katsura means in Japanese.
Acers also need shelter from early morning sun as the leaves suffer from scorch, the leaves are very delicate and fragile which is why they suffer from wind scorch as well.
I would choose ones I like when in leaf, read the labels, then go on the inter net and check the varieties I have chosen before buying any of them as they are quite expensive if buying a decent sized specimen.
Also talk to people in your local nursery if they have good specimens growing in open ground. Pick their brains for information.
I've got 8 in clay soil. When they were planted, a lot of ericaceous soil was added around them and all are doing really well.
Blairs, I have sambucus black lace, its beautiful and is quite happy being pruned to keep in check.