Acer/moving advice

Hi GC,
I bought an Red Acer which I planted about 6 months ago in a relatively sunny spot. It's leafed really well but have noticed that it is frazzled on some of the leaves. Now as we've had late frosts and terrible winds and some hot sun, I'm unsure which weather element it's not happy with. Is it better to leave where it is for another season to see how it gets on or move this winter, baring in mind I don't have a position that is in dappled sun.?
I have another couple of plants that aren't in the correct position, I'm also wondering if it's more harmful to leave where they're not happy until I can move them in the autumn or now? Sorry for long posts

 

The wind won't help ... but an Acer specialist nursery told me they will cope with wind if they are well watered.

But a young plant has to get established of course. I would put a "screen" on the wind-side for a bit. Some fleece / very small mesh netting (Muslin even) between a couple of canes / posts.

You could drape some fleece over the plant - that would solve Wind, Frost and harsh sun in one go! Given it some weeks to acclimatise, but I would be inclined to leave the wind-screen for the first season; I'd be interested in other opinions on that.

 

Hi Kristen,
Thanks for your reply. Yes it's been unusual weather but hoping we're passed the worst!! Particularly frost and wind now. The acer is approx 1metre tall and has an abundance of leaf so its not a very young plant but a wind break of sorts may help. I'll have a think and get creative! Many thanks

 

My view would be that a plant, in a pot, when planted only has roots in the rootball. The soil around may be moist, but it hasn't (yet) got any roots into the surrounding soil. When it was ina pot it was used to being watered "every day", so the rootball functioned well. Once planted it is not so well looked after, the centre of the rootball is likely dry/drier and thus "stressed" until it gets it roots out into surrounding soil. Wind and Scorching sun add to its problems ...

Of course plants bought at Garden Centre, in peak of health, typically survive planting ...

... so I think it is down to just trying to help them through the initial rooting process.

Scratching finger nails (or a knife) down the edge of the rootball, before planting, to encourage new roots to "branch out" (sorry about that!)

Making sure that the original rootball from the pot remains moist

I sink a pot right next to the rootball and water that, so that that water is directly into/under the rootball, to encourage rooting and try to keep the original rootball moist.

Foliar feed - that might help with the plant's diet (whilst it is struggling to do a good job of feeding itself)

And then any shelter / acclimatisation which will help it get established. "Molly coddling" and TLC etc.

Others here may have different views / suggestions

 

Great advice.. Thank you Kristen