Soil type for acer

could anyone please tell me is an acer acid loving or not, we have had ours in a big tub for about 4-5 years and it is growing well, but we cannot remember what type of soil we put it in, and we now want to plant it properly in the garden.

 

It depends upon the type I think.

If you go to the website below and type in Acer it brings back all the varieties, if you find the correct one and click on it, it should tell you

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/index.shtml

Hope that helps

 

It depends what acer you have. It is a mistake to believe that all acers need acid soil:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2005/10/29/fresh_look_acers_feature.shtml

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0403/acer_cultivation.asp

However I would say that position is important, Small trees don't suffer continuous hot sun gladly and their leaves may get scorched. Dappled shade is ideal.

 

Acers are actually happy enough in any except alkaline soil, although they do prefer soil which is slightly acid
They will tolerate the sort of sun we get quite happily, but they do not like a lot of wind. They also NEED a well draining soil with a CONSTANT moisture content i.e. don't let them dry out and then give them a soaking
If or sun gets too hot on an occasional day buy it an umbrella

 

This is my Acer at 25 years old.It grows in Ericaceous compost and is on it's 5th pot

 

Oh I LOVE acers, that one's beautiful kandy..is it bloodgood?I'm so jealous!Imagine looking at that every day..

Mine's a crimson queen or maybe a inaba-shidare
..a tiny wee thing at the mo,just planted it in a raised bed next to my pond, (not in ericaceous compost though,just ordinary MP and top soil). It was in a container for years before now (Mr pods before I met him) and was slowly dying or so it seemed..now Im hoping it'll be resurrected and grow after I pruned out the dead wood
We also have one about 2m tall, with pink tinged leaves..though Im not sure which it is

Good Luck spade!

 

Hi Peapod yes it is Acer Palmatum Bloodgood.We bought it two years after we were married and being a bit green put into the ground on clay.When it started dying we got a book from the library and read about the conditions to grow them in.As I say 25 years and five pots later this is what we have.When we moved here six years ago we bought it with us and because we don't know yet whether we shall be staying we have left in the pot.It gets quite difficult moving it around.

Each year it has little winged seed pods but they always drop off before they are ripe enough to harvest.When we come back from our two week holiday,I leave Mr Kandy to empty the car while I rush round the back to give it a good water,as I know it won't have been looked after like I look after it.

When the sun shines on the leaves it looks fantastic

 

That is some tree to have in a pot Kandy
You have done well

 

I have just got soaked measuring the pot.It is 21.5" across the top of the plastic pot and 15.5" across the base of the pot when it is tipped up.It was rolling around the garden last week when we had the gale force winds,but once the wind stops I just go out stand it back up and give it a good watering.That keeps it going.I don't even feed it.The top of the pot has two heathers growing in the compost and loads of moss which I am leaving becasue it makes a good effect.

The tree stands around 8ft tall but I only know the measuerments in old money not all this metric stuff :D

 

This is my big acer, but I need help identifying it..anyone any ideas?

 

It looks like Acer negundo or Box Elder.

 

thamks digital I appreciate that :D I hate not knowing the proper names of my plants

 

Peapod, DF is right in saying it is Acer negundo and the variety is Flamingo. David.

 

thanks daithe..Ive just repotted it and pruned it as another thread shows and it looks great!The leaves are now coming out a lovely deep pink. Ive also noticed that its loving all the rain and know now to keep it very well watered

Take care

 

Peapod .... take care to remove reverting leaves... my own tree reverted completely :(