Can I move a Japanese Maple?

Aye, I am feeling like eric wimp today too.

Well done Nate, you truely are web'MASTER'. Sad as it might be, that clip has made my day. :D

P.s I've moved since then. After the BBC cancelled my show I lost the house as it came with the job!

Of all the lame cartoons of my yoof that is still one of my favorites.

 

Lol, I do captain caveman impressions for my 3 year old, he loves it, any excuse to shout your head off!

 

I will certianly try mate, although probably be on my own. Am also trying to find out if its ok to come along to Thorpe Park in August? should be fun I have never been. Are you thinking of going to this one?

p.ps. Sorry to MattStan for going 'off-topic' too!

 

Hi Guys - just thought i'd bring you back "on topic".

You are dead right bananaman - the variety you suggested is precicely the one I have.

This being the case, does everyone still feel that moving it in Autumn and to soil fairly thick with clay and poor drainage is still a good idea and likely to be a winner?

 

Nope! I reckon you should construct a raised bed. They don't like bad drainage, though they will tolerate clay (doesn't always mean bad drainage). It wouldn't cost much to make a raised bed. Trawl around for some reject bricks or gravel boards, or rocks or whatever - no cost. Get some decent soil from preferably a garden that is being dug out by builders. Good rich dark soil is what you want. All the builders I know chuck it out in skips so you are saving them money by taking it away, and doing the world a favour to boot. Plant the fellow up in this nice fresh soil that you have unceremoniously dumped on the clay and sit back with a celebratory glass of wine (fizz if we win the world cup!). Enjoy looking for seeds of edging plants to go around the outside - try aubrieta and allysum for starters. Most of all, have fun doing it

 

Thanks Jazid. I did think that I would do a raised border - it would improve the look of the garden and make the Jap stand out even more. Thanks also for the tips on the edging plants - I'll take a look into these...

As the Jap loses all it's leaves during the winter and can look a little bare, I was wondering what I might be able to plant that will come up in winter around the branches to give a bit of greenery and colour?

Any suggestions anyone

 

I wouldn't plant any creepers around it at all, they will outcompete the poor thing and you will snap the branched trying to get their stems untangled. What about some bulbs? Snowdrops, Winter Aconites, early daffs like Tete a Tete. These will be dying off as the leaves come out. I fear that nobody here will agree and I know this might be considered a bit inflamatory but.. IMHO bluebells are a pest that should be avoided at all costs in a tightly cultivated area. Consequently don't stick them under your Maple if you love it still!

 

Bulbs sound good - like the suggestion...