1. Forum News
    NEW SOFTWARE & SERVER IS COMING!
    Please click on the link below to get the most up to date information: CLICK HERE

Acer in trouble

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by simone_in_wiltshire, Feb 24, 2026 at 2:58 PM.

  1. simone_in_wiltshire

    simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2024
    Messages:
    1,920
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    NE Wiltshire, UK
    Ratings:
    +8,909
    Last Autumn, one half the Acer had suddenly wilted leaves literally over night. I wonder if this (in almost white) is a disease in relation. I checked the RHS website and I can’t really find similar issues to my one.
    Would you take the entire tree out?
    It doesn’t look good to me. There are 5 branches like that and looks like spreading to other branches.
    Thanks for your advice.

    image0.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2026 at 3:16 PM
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    57,392
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +113,341
    It just looks like some die back to me.
    I'd prune it out although might be a bit late now as it may bleed.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • simone_in_wiltshire

      simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 16, 2024
      Messages:
      1,920
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      NE Wiltshire, UK
      Ratings:
      +8,909
      Thanks @pete
      I had looked at all illnesses but couldn’t find a picture that showed what I have.
      There are more parts affected and some parts turn black.
      I take the tree out.
       
    • Pete8

      Pete8 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 29, 2017
      Messages:
      1,084
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Billericay, Essex
      Ratings:
      +2,701
      Your description bears similarities with Verticillium Wilt - something acers are prone to.
      If some of the branches have black 'bruises' on them, that would confirm it.
      I have one with it.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Informative Informative x 1
      • simone_in_wiltshire

        simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 16, 2024
        Messages:
        1,920
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        NE Wiltshire, UK
        Ratings:
        +8,909
        @Pete8 That’s what I looked at the rhs website.
        I will take it out now. I don’t want to get spread over the garden.
         
        • Agree Agree x 1
        • Thevictorian

          Thevictorian Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Mar 14, 2024
          Messages:
          1,114
          Location:
          Norfolk
          Ratings:
          +2,239
          In the picture it looks like natural dieback. Maples are famous for it, especially when the branch is shaded. My acers, in full sun (they weren't when they were planted but the neighbour took out there large tree) had more dieback than normal last year, likely because of the dry weather.

          I would try and get some more pictures for an id before I removed it as the rest looks pretty healthy from what I can see.
           
        • simone_in_wiltshire

          simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Mar 16, 2024
          Messages:
          1,920
          Gender:
          Female
          Location:
          NE Wiltshire, UK
          Ratings:
          +8,909
          @Thevictorian I have already taken out it. A closer look outside the dark corner revealed that the infection affected most parts of the tree and the stem was half black. I don’t want that it spreads to other shrubs and trees. Hopefully I come away with my drastic step.
          There was in neighbour’s garden an Ash tree taken down in 2020 because of ash dieback. I wonder if it came from there. Or the drought last year made it too weak.


          Thanks to all for your advice :dbgrtmb:
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Perki

            Perki Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jun 2, 2017
            Messages:
            2,722
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Rossendale, Lancashire
            Ratings:
            +10,239
            I were going to say hold on for now until you've posted some pictures of the black stems. What variety of Acer was it some seem to be more vulnerable than others to disease especially the coral bark variety's?

            The white stems look like natural winter dieback its very common.

            The black stems can be very confusing I did the same with my Acer Winter flame fearing VW but I've replanted it since. Verticillian wilt gets mixed up with another disease that affect acers called pseudomonia sygrina which also displays black stems, from my own observation and research to differentiate between them - VW its more common on plants stress in summer by hot weather dry soil - PS is mainly a problem on wetter / moiste soils displaying black stems usually through winter. Another way VW tends to start bottom upwards - PS usually starts at the top or near the top working downwards .

            I believe my Acer Winter flame has PS I've kept it at bay for couple of years but a stem at the top has partially gone black but not around the whole stem. I've been combating it with a copper spray . The soil is heavy with clay and shaded most of the time ideal condition for PS and displays black stems in winter . I am going to try to break up the soil structure more this year by mulching and adding Gypsum. Its an on going battle if this year plan doesn't work I'll be potting it up then the bin if that fails .
             
            • Informative Informative x 1
            • simone_in_wiltshire

              simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 16, 2024
              Messages:
              1,920
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              NE Wiltshire, UK
              Ratings:
              +8,909
              @Perki I bought that Acer in 2020 out of naivety that red leaves look nice. Reality was that in the first spring, it lost all its leaves to leave scorch. I took it out of the ground and put it into a barrel pot for 2 years to have it in a shade corner. It had a poor life because a tree in a pot is never as happy as a tree in soil. It moved from the pot into soil in 2023 but I had to plant it close to the fence.
              In Autumn last year, one half of the leaves didn't fall as the other half did but was brown wilted over night.
              To make it short, my garden is not good for Acer and I shouldn't have bought one. It was a mistake to buy it in the first place.
               
            Gardeners Corner is dependent on Donation to keep running, if you enjoy using Gardeners Corner, please consider donating to help us with our operating costs.
            Loading...

            Share This Page

            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
              Dismiss Notice