Vitax VTX6AF901 Japanese Maple Acer Feed 0.9kg Pouch

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Bacterial Leaf Spot: Bacterial leaf spot can be treated with a mixture of compost and water sprayed directly on the leaves of infected plants. The compost will help kill the bacteria while also providing nutrients to help the plant recover. Repot every 3 – 4 years in spring well before the first new growth emerges, - this means effectively in February or early March. Spider Mites: Spider mites can be killed with a mixture of compost and water. The compost will smother the mites while the water will help to wash them away. Acers also love moisture , especially when they’re small saplings. They can drown in too much water, but moderate amounts of water routinely (we recommend two deep waterings per week for young trees) are much appreciated by these acers, and they’ll do best in moderately wet soils with plenty of drainages.

If your Acer is in the ground it won’t need feeding, but if you want to encourage more growth you can give it a sprinkle of general purpose fertiliser at the start of the growth season (March-April). Japanese maples are hardy but do best in a spot sheltered from strong winds. Red-and purple-leaved cultivars need some sun to fully develop their dark hues. Variegated Japanese maples need partial shade to prevent the afternoon sun from scorching the foliage. Green-leaved forms tolerate full sun, but are best in dappled shade as very bright conditions can sometimes cause scorchWhen adding compost to the soil around your Japanese maples, be sure to mix it in well. The compost should not be piled up on top of the roots or leaves. If you see what looks like wool or fake Hallowe’en cobwebs on your tree, it may well be scale insects, which work in roughly the same way. The solution to both pests is removing them by hand and squashing them, or hosing them off the branches if the hosepipe ban has ended by then! You can then spray the affected areas with a solution of water and oil or soap ( recipes here) which will prevent the insects clinging on and suffocate any that do. Vine weevils Take two scoops of your garden’s soil, about one trowel full each, and set them in separate containers. Add ½ cup of distilled water to each separate sample and mix it into the soil thoroughly. Garden Shade Assessment: If you’re unsure about the level of shade in your garden, refer to our “ plants for shaded gardens” guide to determine the most suitable options.

Ericaceous compost can also help trap the moisture that Japanese Maples love so much, as well as feed the growing plant. So, the combination of nitrogen and water is especially beneficial for these trees, and your acers will benefit most from a healthy amount of ericaceous compost in their first several growing years. Kitchen Scraps Can Help Feed Your Acer Make sure the planting hole has good drainage, as well. While Japanese Maples love water, they also need proper drainage to avoid rotting or drowning the root system. Water poured into a suitable planting hole should drain away within 10 – 30 minutes. Ericaceous Compost Can Be Used Every SpringAcidic soil is more commonly found in lower to mid-altitude, forested areas with moderate to heavy rainfall and a rich diversity of plant species. Think of deciduous forests and wetlands. Testing Your Soil’s pH is Simple Trees are available from most good garden centres, but a bigger range is available from specialist nurseries or at flower shows.

Japanese maples like their roots quite shallow so plant them with no more than 2.5cm (1in) of soil over the main roots Japanese Maples, or Acers, do best in acidic soil with a pH level of 5.5 to 6.0. They are, therefore, good candidates for ericaceous compost, which can be applied around the roots during planting, and above the root system each Spring.

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Japanese maples are best pruned when fully dormant (November to January), as maples bleed sap from pruning cuts at other times, weakening the tree. However, pruning is still best kept to a minimum as the most graceful shape comes from a tree that has been allowed to develop fairly naturally. As a result, just remove badly-placed or crossing shoots to encourage a good framework of branches to grow.