On 20/05/2013 02:06, Brooklyn1 wrote:
On Sun, 19 May 2013 15:42:57 +0200, mattyvx
wrote:


Hello I bought an Acer (Japanese maple) last from the garden center
which had two lead branches that weren't connected above the soil line.

This year the leaves have started to form and the plant is really
growing well on one of the two leaders (as you can see from the
pictures) however the second leader the leaves have shrivelled and are
dying.

What should I do to maximize growth from the plant?
Do I remove the recessive "upright" to allow the dominant to grow?
If so, when should I do this? Now during growing season or wait till
late summer

Thanks!


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Whatever you thought was the soil line wasn't... you planted it too
deep... you're lucky both trunks didn't die. Japanese maple is
typically multi trunked... the soil line would be well below where the
trunks are connected. I suggest repotting before you lose the other
trunk... actually it would do better planted in the ground.

I think that you are pretty much right, although I doubt the OP
replanted it yet - it looks like how it would come from the garden
centre. I wondered if the dead shoot was off the stock, but the bark
looks very similar to that on the live shoot.

I agree that the dead shoot needs to be removed, but if it is just one
plant and the graft is failing, the whole tree is on the way out anyway.
But he might be lucky, and that shoot has dieback which hasn't reached
the junction with the other stem. Radical pruning might just save the
Acer, but I wouldn't bet on it.

--

Jeff