"Emery Davis" wrote in message
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On 05/08/2011 08:18 PM, sbonline wrote:
I have an Acer in my garden - about 6 years old and 8ft tall (i dont
know the breed, but it is more of an "upwards" grower thank an
"outwards" grower).

Anyway, for the last 6 years I have been thrilled with the amount it has
grown and every year it has shown an abundance of red and orange
coloured leaves.

However, this year the buds appeared in April and have not moved since.
It still looks the same as in winter. I have had a look at a few
different bits of advice online and thought I would complete a "scrape"
test, which came up with some interesting results.

At the bottom of the tree is one main "trunk" which forks about 3in out
of the ground into 3 trunks. I have done the scrape test in several
places and the trunk is still alive, however 2 of the forks look dead.
The other fork is fine until about 3ft from the top where this too looks
dead.


Hi Steph,

It certainly is the season for Acer problems, sorry you've got one too.

The "scrape test" is definitive, if it shows brown not green then that
part of the plant has died. The only thing to mention is that Acers
often have damage along one side, before concluding the branch is dead
make sure to scrape in a few different places around the circumference,
if you see what I mean.

The dead parts should be cut off. On the theory that some sort of
pathogen has caused the die-back, cut slightly down into clean (living)
wood on each branch. Use a sharp secateur and clean with alcohol
between cuts. Don't treat the wounds with any sealant, just leave to dry.

Acers have one set of "emergency buds" that should come out on the clean
wood. If these also shrivel, then there's really no hope I'm afraid.

Sorry for the bad news as I know this will cause the tree to be pretty
mutilated, but if you stick with it, it will come back eventually,
hopefully. But I really don't see much option in this case.

Is it the case that the tree got too much or too little water this
winter? What you describe can happen if the roots stay very wet over
winter, Acers don't like this at all. If your soil is not free
draining you might want to consider moving the it if possible.

HTH

-E

Going on from your last para, ours had a very very wet winter, BUT, didn't
flood. Others may be interested how it was situated. It was proud in its pot
so surplus water ran off. In a pot with drainage holes in another one, (The
Blue one in the picture) and that had drainage holes and it was standing on
gravel http://www.myalbum.com/Album=FMWHTXMP

Mike


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