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Talkback: Acers in pots
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Yes, they are beautiful, aren't they? And sensitive. I have two of my own, a dissectum and an osakazuki. Granted, they are young and small; but the dissectum lost all its leaves suddenly by mid-September. The Osakasuki bore it valiantly till mid-October. And the colours weren't what the glossies promise - but then I was told that the trees would need sunshine to turn their palette on and there has not been much of that luxury in Edinburgh this year.
I am also a bit nervous about hardiness. Roots are protected in the earth - but then, there is a relatively small quantity of soil in a pot, not much protection there.
I am also a bit nervous about hardiness. Roots are protected in the earth - but then, there is a relatively small quantity of soil in a pot, not much protection there.
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We have bought several, from very small, all of which we have lost, to fairly large plants, both green and red, though only one dissected.
In Bucks, we lost leaves very early I thought this year, but none seem to thrive, though we have only started growing them 3 years ago max. I have some in pots, some in the ground, all at the back of the house, sheltered as much as possible, but facing north. I take the younger ones in pots in the garage wrapped when a bad frost is forecast, and mulch deeply around the larger ones and ones in soil in late autumn. I haven't used the No.3 compost as I thought they were un demanding soil-wise.
Any advice?
I have an acer doing brillianlty in a pit on shingle in my south facing garden!
More the pity the same cant be said for the one I planted in the ground at the front of the house North faceing!
Here are my conclusions from the last six years collecting & growing:
1. even small ones don't mind freezing weather, as long as they have some shelter (eg against a wall) and the soil doesn't freeze solid
2. they HATE wet feet, and will almost certainly die if they spend a winter sitting in a saucer
3. watering in spring at leaf-opening is perhaps the trickiest thing: not too much, and not too early
4. though 'dappled' is often mentioned, they can take lots of sunshine and will respond well in terms of growth - provided it's not all day and particularly not mid-day sun
5. to produce the deepest colour in the purpurea forms, lots of sunlight is actually essential
6. so, for reasons of 4&5, north-facing isn't ideal
7. exposure to wind, particularly in early spring, will wreck their appearance for the whole year, and may kill the plant if you're tempted to overwater to address leaf dessication
8. they love leafmould mulching - and who wouldn't
9. if they drop leaves (early frost / overwatering) all is not necessarily lost, even if no more re-grow until the following year, however, if leaf-loss is accompanied by white speckles on a darkened trunk, it's a goner
10. seaweed extract is reputedly (per advice @ RHSChelsea & Hampton Court) a better fertiliser than growmore or Miracle-Gro-types .. so far so good
Anyway, I hope all that helps. I'm still learning as I go, but the three most important points for me so far are water, water, water