a gardening teaser

[captainbovine]

I planted a large acer from a tub into the soil. It was put in with a big amount of erricacious compost but I see some of the leaves are wilting and some look as though they are bleached out.

Do I need to dig this up...it's about 5ft high and 4ft across, and dig a bigger hole and put more compost in? I know the border is erricacious  but I'm wondering if the clay content in the soil is bleaching the leaves.

I don't want to loose it, it was a  present and it's got quite big now.

any suggestions? I fankyou x

[bidder.17]

I'm not sure how long ago it was transplanted, or what aspect it was/is in.

Up to a certain size at least they tend to respond badly to full sun, and can show some of the symptoms you describe. They generally prefer some degree of shade.

If it's only recently transplanted you might expect some adverse response from the tree.

Make sure it has some shade and is watered would be my suggestion

If you have clay soil, try to add as organic matter in order to change the composition of the subsoil over time.

Check see if it's broadly south facing and with no shade. If so you may need to rethink

Depending on how long ago you transplanted it will depend on how easy it is to move.

Concerning PH any compost you put in will only last a certain time before it's washed through so if you need to alter the PH, it will need to be a continuing thing.

[bidder.17]

I am assuming you mean the Japanese maples.

The other thing to consider if so is that they generally like well drained conditions. Not too wet or dry which unfortunately clay doesn't give in general, depending on how deep the topsoil goes down to.

I would look at the shade aspect and take it from there and keep a watchful eye on it for the moment as well as watering ( tap water may be alkaline or acidic depending where you are ) rainwater is better if it's available, though they can grow ok in marginally acidic conditions and a little beyond, but not very alkaline.

[shelly180]

They can also be affected by the wind, check its not in too exposed a position.

[fishpieface]

Our Acer at the front has done much better since we took down a conifer tree

that had grown much too large for its position and was stealing all the nutrients

from the soil.  We are now leaving the Acer for a year to carry on as it is, doing

well, then will prune it into a better shape.

Is it possible Captain, that yours is having the soils nutrients stolen by a greedy

plant that's too close to it?

[captainbovine]

it is in a partly shaded area, it gets sun until about 2pm and then it's in the shade.

We've cut down the massive shrubs and taken out the others, so I think the soil may be wrong. Even though we did transplant it and put in some erricaceous compost, I don't think we made the hole big enough and it could be a drainage problem.

It's absolutely poured down all day here so I haven't been able to go out and dig it out.

I'll do it after work tomorrow, I'm worried that it is dying and I won't be able to catch it before it does:-(

[1311rose]

The rhs site might be able to help

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=5301

In theory acers can grow in neutral or acidic soil.  I've got a couple but they were not put in ericaceous compost and they are doing fine.

[captainbovine]

that's lucky...I nearly killed our one in a tub by repotting it and I completely forgot and put it in ordinay compost. I remembered after a week and repotted it.

We've managed to re plant it today in between the rain showers! we've put in another 40lts of ericacious compost so let's hope its OK.

Garden centre guy said it could be wind but I don't think so. It is a windy spot but the best bit is the bit in the wind!!!!

well we've done all we can, it's up to mother nature now.