GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

Zarch · 07-10-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emery Davis

On Mon, 1 Oct 2007 08:34:03 +0100
Zarch wrote:

Hi all,

Would right now be a good time to buy and plant an Acer Palmatum?
Something like a 'Sango-kaku'?

Buy, yes. Plant, no. Wait until the tree is dormant. If you have any
questions about winter drainage at all, wait until spring. If the roots
stay wet over winter, there is every chance it will die.

If yes, i'll get off the garden centre to get one as i really like
them.

Get the largest plant you can afford (within reason), the older the graft the more
chance it will have to take. Also consider getting Eddisbury or Beni kawa. They
both have the red bark of Sango kaku but are much less tricky to grow. Both
have less problems with wet, Eddisbury takes sun better and Beni kawa leafs out
a couple of weeks later, which is convenient if you're in a frost pocket. All three
can be grown in full sun, but will take a few years to establish.

Also, any tips about planting them? ie anything special i should do in
the hole?

You know it won't grow in chalk. Otherwise not too picky about soil, although
prefers slightly acidic. Don't use much soil amendment in heavy soil, it causes
drainage problems. If you're in heavy clay, the best bet is to build up on top of
the soil, if you want to keep the tree small (bear in mind Sango kaku is a 12 foot
tree). Otherwise you can certainly grow A. palmatum in clay, but very tough
to establish.

Don't fertilize beyond a little bone meal, you can do a little osmocote the second year.

Good luck. Even experienced maple growers kill scads of these (and
Sango kaku is pretty tricky) so "If at first you don't succeed..."

-E
--
Emery Davis
You can reply to ecom
by removing the well known companies
Questions about wine? Visit http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Emery,

Thank you very much for taking the time to post such a detailed reply. I will get upto the garden centre and see what they have.

Many thanks

Mick