Talking of Acers.......

I have these 2 young Acers, my plan was to double pot them for the winter i.e. plant them in their pots in larger tubs to protect the roots. Will this be adequate or should I overwinter these youngsters in the greenhouse. The spot where they are going is well sheltered from winds.



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Winters can be quite cold in Hereford ....... They are a hardy plant .. But if you have got a greenhouse .......

 

Hi Val

Normally tough , but if you have the space, doing more good than harm by keeping them in the greenhouse over winter as they are small plants , bring out late Feb , early March so they don't bud to early

I would cut the plastic ties on them , plus you have some wind burn on the golden one so keep in the shade from 11.00-2.00 if you can and well watered.

Spruce

 

I've just put those on, otherwise it flops down!!

Val

 

I put anything like that in the greenhouse / unheated conservatory over winter, if there is space. I think they come on sooner in Spring and make more growth as a consequence.

 

I have 4/5 large acers and I always put them in the greenhouse overwinter, come spring/summer they are on top form!

 

What size pots/compost do you use Kayleigh?

Val

 

Well Val, I only use normal bog standard 3 for £10 compost but I feed them weekly with "Micracle Grow Pour 'n' Feed" food which I think works wonders. One of the large ones is in a sliver pot (don't know dimensions) but I tend to keep the busher varietys in small pots as they tend to get more fuller in leaf! I water them daily with a lot of water as they are thirsty plants I've found.

 

WOW!!!!!! what beautiful Acers!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this, I am off to get some "Miracle Grow Pour 'n' Feed" food.

Val

 

if they are Japanese acers they can withstand any cold!

 

I would tend to agree to putting them into the greenhouse this year.
Your yellow leaf one looks to me to be Shirasawanum 'Aureum' which is a rather more tender leafed plant anyways
Depends of course just how cold your winters can be and how you protect the roots

 

They can indeed but I think you can get more growth on them if you cosset them somewhat (don't want to make them "tender" though) ... and they aren't exactly famed for their speed of growth so, for me, facilitating faster growth, in the early stages at least, is a key objective.

 

While they are in the greenhouse during winter, do I water them at all?

Val

 

If I was potting up acers I would be using ericaceous compost ( peat based) something like Arthur bowyers .....other varietys of compost are available .......at the bottom of the pot I would use the sankey drainage dome or broken crocs.... To ensure that excess water drains freely away. A layer of Slate or pea gravel on the surface of the compost will help to maintain moisture.
To feed during the season ....... A quality ericaceous fertiliser ....

Ok before you all shout ....it dosnt need ericaceous ...... I always recommended that in all of my garden centres...."................ Multi purpose compost can be used as the ph level is usually fairly low........ And usually cheaper And if that is the compost you wish to use I suggest you use multi-purpose with john innes in it....


Controversial ? No I don't think so.........just a different suggestion

 

My little acers which I have pictured are in Arthur Bowers ericaceous, and the soil in their bigger pots is going to be a mixture of ericaceous & J.I. No.2, so I actually got this bit right!!!
But do I WATER them whilst in the greenhouse over winter???

Val