On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:19:23 +0100
Pam Moore wrote:

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:43:11 +0100, Steve
wrote:


I have a potted, 1½ foot Acer in my kitchen which has been there for
18 months and now, unsurprisingly, isn't doing so well. When is the
right time of year to plant this outside? Anything else I should be
doing?

You should be saying sorry to it! It should have been outside all
along. Well done for keeping it alive all this time!
I would put the pot in a sheltered position outside NOW, as long as
you do not live in the frozen north. Maybe protect it with fleece in
the depths of winter. If it begins to show growth in Spring plant it
out with TLC.
You could try planting it out now in a sheltered position but it might
be too much of a shock for it.
Why did you keep it indoors? Acers are hardy trees.


Good advice from Pam. Japanese Maples will not live indoors for all
that long. (Pedantically must point out that some Acers are hardy
but others are frost tender or even tropical. Sorry!)

Get it outside, even in the frozen north. I'd also say to only wrap the
pot, keeping wet fleece against the bark in winter could cause lots
of problems.

Spring planting, but while still dormant, is better unless you can provide
a sheltered spot with very free draining soil. In any case if you have
compact or water retaining soil you might want to consider planting
on a mound rather than digging down.

-E

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