Is this Acer dead

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by snookster, Aug 6, 2019.

  1. snookster

    snookster Apprentice Gardener

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    Hello
    Newbie to forum
    We moved house 6 weeks ago
    After speaking the previous owner they said it was a palmatum however it died off last summer
    Is there any hope for it?
    Many thanks for any info 20190805_201806.jpg
     
    snookster, Aug 6, 2019
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  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Snookstar, welcome to Gardeners Corner:thumbsup::)

    Well, it certainly looks that way..............but before we condemn it do a little investigation and prune a stem or two off to see if the inside of the stem is green. If it's light brown/tan and dry then it has passed away. I wouldn't stick to pruning one stem I would prune, and examine several. Acers don't like direct sun, preferring partial shade and also don't like drying out while your tree is right out in the open. If you remember we had, last year, a very long continuous period of a heatwave and I suspect the tree might have fallen victim to that.:dunno: As a matter of interest, what kind of soil do you have, and what direction does it face.:scratch::coffee:
     
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    • snookster

      snookster Apprentice Gardener

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      Hi Amandii
      Thank you for the reply
      I believe its south west facing
      I think it is clay based but not sure
      As far as i know the tree has been there for about 20 years
      Planted by the previous owners
      I'll try the pruning test
      But agree was a brutally hot summer so that might have been it's undoing and matches in with what our neighbours said about when it started to wilt
       
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        Perhaps if the previous owner had applied several.....

        upload_2019-8-6_15-16-10.jpeg or used a hose it might still be alive.:wallbanging::dunno::)

        Clay soil? It's good for Roses but maybe not so good for Acers as when clay dries out it really goes hard and dry. My garden is very sandy and Acers seem to like it. Let the GC Gang, of which you are a member (Special Jacket and Blue Pills in the post:heehee:), how you get on.:coffee:
         
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      • snookster

        snookster Apprentice Gardener

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        Unfortunately the previous owner's husband was very ill so perhaps it wasn't top of her priorities
        But don't know tbh
        I've tried the bark test and doesn't look good, dry and light brown in colour
        Branches are stiff and break off easily
        Personally i don't think it was the best place to plant it in direct sunlight and wind, however it was a mature tree
        I'll most probably leave it for another year before having it taken down
        Unless you have any other suggestions
         
        snookster, Aug 7, 2019
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      • Sian in Belgium

        Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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        I think seeing as it’s not grown any leaves this year, and has been described as dead last summer, I would call it quits.

        What do you want to have there, long term? It has quite a nice shape to it.... one thing you could do would be to take the small branches off, leaving the main stems, giving you a sort of shuttlecock shape. Could look lovely with a clematis, honeysuckle, or climbing rose, running through and up it.... then you could make a flower bed back to the garage wall.
        Just a wacky “outside the box” thought!
         
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          Sian in Belgium, Aug 7, 2019
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        • snookster

          snookster Apprentice Gardener

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          Hi Sian
          Thanks for the ideas
          Definitely consider that
          We've not been in the house long
          I'm hoping to build a koi pond next year and the dream would be to have a japanese style garden
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            I think you have done enough, snookster, to prove the tree has, unfortunately, expired, and I would dig it up when you get the time to do so. It's a shame as I hate to see a fairly mature tree to fail.

            That's a great idea by Sian:love30::thumbsup:. I was going to suggest using the tree for hanging Bird Feeders on if you wanted to attract birds........why not do both.??
             
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            • Sian in Belgium

              Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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              People always think of piles of dead logs for beetles, etc, but there is equal value in standing dead wood, so you would be providing a valuable and scarce wildlife resource at the same time.
               
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                Sian in Belgium, Aug 7, 2019
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              • snookster

                snookster Apprentice Gardener

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                Thanks guys
                As i think i might well dig it up that could be the start of the digging spot for the koi pond
                 
                snookster, Aug 7, 2019
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