My poor Acer

Hello friends!

So in my garden I inherited a small acer. Its never been brilliant, but I'd like to try my best for it. This summer there has been a lot of tip die back, and the leaves look really sad.

I live on the coast, and I have heard they don't love those conditions, but not sure of the truth of that. I'm on poor, dry, sandy soil.

I'd love to do my best for it - I like them, and I can't afford to replace it! I've attached a few photos.

Thanks in advance for any ideas...

 

Acers grow under dappled shade at the edge of forests in their natural environment, and the soil is moist and rich in humus.
So completely the opposite of where yours is.

The red leaves varieties can usually bear more sun than the green leaved ones, but only up to a point.

I'm afraid it's in the wrong place and there's not much you can do about it.
One of mine is also doing very badly this year, mostly due to the sun/heat and lack of rain. It just doesn't suit them.

You can try frequent watering - 3-4 bucketfuls a couple of times a week and a 4" mulch of compost will help, but I don't think it will thrive there whatever you do.

 

I agree with @Pete8 , depending on where they are in my garden several of my Acers are looking similar now, this last heatwave has really done damage. The good news is, being deciduous those crispy leaves will all come off in winter and you will get a nice crop of new fresh ones next year. If you can give it some shade it will help.

 

Crispy Acers will happen in all the dry and hot weather - they just prefer moist and dappled shade. Even a couple of mine in the shade look a bit worse for wear this year. If you can’t move it then treat it to loads of mulch next year and keep on top of watering (a note to myself there).

 

I think you have a few options with it @Nickoslesteros . You can either keep on trying to keep it happy with lots of mulching and watering, or you can cut it back in winter which will keep it smaller but easier to manage if you regularly get that hot/dry weather, or you can take it out and start again with something else. I'd go for the last option if it was mine, but it isn't my garden

You could combine the first two options. The problem gets magnified when they get bigger, and it becomes very hard for the plant to sustain all the top growth, so pruning it and having a smaller specimen is easier for the plant.
I agree with @Pete8 though . Coastal weather is never going to suit them unless they have enough serious shelter from winds - and possibly salty winds at that, depending on just how close you are to the sea. Add the poor, dry sandy soil, and too much sun, and it's a case of wrong plant, wrong place. You have to decide what suits you best, as well as the plant.

 

You also have to decide how much effort you want to put into trying to keep your acer. I agree with all the above, wrong place, wrong soil etc. Itmight be an idea to research other trees which are similar to acers, but enjoy your location and conditions and replace. Life would be much easier and you would not have to watch a tree die slowly which is what is happening.

 

I agree with what has been said already but will underline mulch and shelter if you decide to do nothing else. When my brother bought his house, the front garden was overshadowed by a large tree in the neighbouring garden, so we decided acers would be a nice feature. These established over a few years and did well until the tree next door was removed and left his garden sunny and open for most of the day. Unfortunately this meant the acers were less than ideal and we had crispy leaves from sun and wind drying but a few years of mulching and letting them further establish has reduced the damage and they cope far better. The reds don't look particularly bothered by this year's weather and the yellow/golden have far less damage than in earlier years. I think the mulch is the heavy hitter here but they do provide a lot of shelter for each other which is nearly as important.

 

Thank you - I think its all I can do as I can't afford to replace it with anything at the moment

 

I think the same happened here. There used to be a row of lleylandii types of trees next door, which in the past few years grew huge and massively overwhelming. They have since been removed - a few years ago now.

 

Thanks! It's only about 5 foot - maybe 6 at a push, and I don't think its put on any size in all the time I've known it. For now, I can't invest in a new tree - but if push came to shove, do you have any ideas for a suitable compact replacement? Something attractive and ornamental. It's in a row with a contorted Hazel and berberis beyond it...

 

If there was a row of hedging [any hedging] which has been removed @Nickoslesteros , that will certainly have made an impact, as @Thevictorian describes, simply due to the amount of shelter the Acer now doesn't have. Moisture levels might be better, so every cloud etc., but it'll still mean sun/wind will affect foliage, so the aesthetics aren't going to be great. I think, looking at the photos again, it might be worth clearing some of the surrounding planting if you can, especially ground cover, and then you can at least mulch to benefit the Acer rather than anything else, and then do some pruning in winter. That will give you a better looking specimen next year, and if it still doesn't look good, you can decide on something else.
Again, it's hard to see the overall shape, but if you can do a couple of pix from the angle you see it from most, you'll get help with shaping it to give a better outline, if nothing else, and it'll be able to sustain the top growth more easily if it's smaller, as well as being more protected from that sun/wind.
Sandier soil isn't something we have here, so there might be shrubs that will suit well that I wouldn't grow easily here. Does it have to be a shrub, or would you consider perennials or grasses? Also - what coast are you near , and roughly what area? That will help with ideas.

 

I gave it a good clear at the base, a really deep deep water and a good thick mulch. I pruned off most of the ugly dieback. At least it looks abut better, for now!

I think if I dk end up having tk replace it, I'd still prefer a small in stature tree, as it sits in a hit of a row. I'm on the north West Coast - wirral to be exact..

 

I know you say you cannot afford to replace your acer but look up Cercis, they are about £13.00 upwards. You may be able to find one cheaper, although not exactly the same as a purple acer it could possibly make an acceptable replacement. Whoever planted your acer did a good job because it has reached the size it has, it looks as if the roots have reached the limits of it planting hole. They hate drying wind, excessive sun, lack of water and no food.
If you are happy to continue resuscitation efforts make sure you mulch around the trunk for about 2 metres, do not let the mulch touch the trunk.
Good luck.

 

Have a look at replacing with Sambucus Black Lace @Nickoslesteros .It is a superb plant with gorgeous foliage and pink flowers as a bonus.
Tough as old boots, happy in sun, pretty happy in shade. Grows like stink and I hard prune mine in the spring as that way you get the best foliage. Without meaning to be rude! they are called “ The poor man’s Acer”. Certainly they should not be expensive to buy as very easy from cuttings. They go a really nice deep red in the Autumn and can hold their own looks wise with my Acers which have not liked our unusually hot summer. My green leafed Acers look dreadful, the dark maroon like Bloodgood have fared better but my Sambucas look really healthy despite absolutely no attention whatsoever after being pruned in March. If you only have limited space it does not mind being hacked back pretty much any time if growing out of it’s alloted space

 

It's a really nice looking plant, that. I might ask around and see if I can get any cuttings - or even buy something small and cheap - throw itin a pot and then if my Acer really struggles next year, then maybe I can replace it! cheers!