Acer Atropurpureum bark discoloured!

Noticed this on my Acer today. Is this a dreaded bark canker that i must cut out? I have a second main stem so it won't be the end if I have to cut this one right down. Any advice would be welcome as I really am a beginner to gardening since last summer.

 

Hi Gareth, It looks as though it could be 'Coral spot'. That's a fungal disease too, which attacks live or dead wood. Whatever it is, it doesn't look good, so if you can bear to cut that stem right off, I would. Be scrupulously clean with the saw, try not to get any of the infected stuff on the cut and there's perhaps even a good case for covering the cut end with a wound-sealing compound to prevent infection entering.

 

I agree coral spot , you need to cut out you have little choice as it will spread and the branch will eventually die it must of been damaged for the spores to get a entry point into , I would also replace all the bark chips as the spores will have fallen on to them I would burn if possible don't put on the compost bin including the branch you will cut of , if you have hazel growing by you is one of the big carriers of the spore.

Just for next time you only need a few slug pellets not a hand full

How long have you had the acer for ?

Spruce

 

Thanks for the advice @noisette47 that's exactly what the gardner in the garden center said it was and told me to cut it and seal it. Lets hope that'll be the end of it. It hurt me to cut so much of it especially as it had all the buds starting to open. Thanks for the advice and I hope this helps anyone with the same problem.

 

Tahnks for the advice @Spruce , I'll go and take the bark mulch off now. I needed a new bag of fine bark to put on my bulb pots anyway. I'll chuck the bark away too. Thanks again.

 

@Gareth Hughes
I have acers in pots and use a pea gravel to cover the soil and all other pot plants in the garden as it helps to stop the slugs from having a habitat to live in, and plus side stops vine weevils as well if deep enough.

I only ever use bark on my 1st year daylily's to keep them snug over winter but thats only in the 1st year after that they have to get on with it.
I am not a big fan of bark or wood chip mulch as you just dont know what you are getting ie spores and the like and on the borders or under hedges it depletes the nitrogen in the soil as it breaks down , so for those jobs I use mushroom compost or horse muck.

I also feed the acers in April with a slow release fertiliser the ones that you buy in a plastic bottle, just keep well watered during the summer dont let it dry out and a sheltered spot out of the wind and because its a young plant keep out of the miday sun, once you get the ideal spot for it they are easy in pots my two are about 25 years old.

It should be fine and it will recover and produce new growth but will require TLC this year.

Spruce

 

Thanks a lot. I'll have to have a think about what to use as mulch now. I like the natural look of bark but if it's the reason that this happened, then I'll choose something else instead. I hope I managed to cut it in time and that the Acer can be saved. If it can be saved then that second trunk will benefit from the extra nutrients that will be coming it's way now.

 

slate chips are nice and come in a range of natural colours if you dont like gravel etc

 

Had to cut it right down as it had started again on the cut branch. If it comes back now then it's the end of my Acer. I hope the drastic cut back will save it. Last chance saloon!

 

Have a look here for RHS advice on Coral Spot.

 

The mulch should not be allowed to extend up to and touching the plant trunk

 

Sad times. The corral spot returned and it looks like i have to get rid of this beautiful plant. I'll invest in a new one this year. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

sorry to hear that Gareth , either burn it or dump it and the compost and wash the pot out with a bit of bleach and leave to dry in the sun , dont put any of it in the compost bin.

 

Thanks @Spruce. I'll replace it once the pot's been cleaned.