japanesse maple`s

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by scooby-mas, Jun 16, 2010.

  1. scooby-mas

    scooby-mas Gardener

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    just a quick question, i have 2 maples in large pots on my patio but how often should i water them? and also should i be feeding them to? thanks...:cnfs:
     
  2. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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    I've two, this one's 25 years old it isn't in a pot and it gets watered whenever I water the lawn. It gets a bit of Miracle Grow now and again, but no special treatment.

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    I'd suggest you don't let it get dry and as it's in a pot, try to move it where it gets a bit of shade when it's really hot and sunny as the leaves burn easily if not kept moist.
     
  3. scooby-mas

    scooby-mas Gardener

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    i have the same and it got repotted into a huge pot last year not quit as big as that lol... not far off thou i just wondered as its my fav and want to look after her, its the talking point when people are round
     
  4. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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    We lost another one about four years ago, died over the winter. I replaced with this one, it's taken me that long to "train." It cost me £40 in B&Q.

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    As you say, I'd be upset if I lost them, I was worried when they were like this earlier in the year.

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    I saw one slightly larger than our largest one but not a particularly attractive shape in Bent's Garden Centre a few weeks ago, they wanted £3,000 for it!

    They must be joking!
     
  5. scooby-mas

    scooby-mas Gardener

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    you say train it? what do you mean, i`ve never trimmed or anything am i ok to do so?
     
  6. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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    I like mine to be "mushroom shaped." It's just a personal choice.
    You have to start with "a suitable case for treatment."


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    I "surround it" with bamboo canes and attach wire between suitable branches and the canes and pull the branches down a bit. Then I go back a few weeks later and pull them down a bit more, but only during the summer when it's growing. It takes a couple of years to get the required result. If there's a branch that is "untrainable" I cut it off. As well as pulling the branches down I pull some either left or right to slowly fill any gaps left by the pruning.

    Underneath all that foliage becomes a complete void.
    Once you've achieved the required shape it's a case of "tucking in" or pruning new small branches that don't want to conform.
    With the big one, I go at it with shears now and again to trim the "skirt."

    This was a week or so ago, it's now filling out more.

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  7. Rhyleysgranny

    Rhyleysgranny Gardener

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    DG Riley. You are a smart cookie. Your acers are lovely:luv:
     
  8. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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    Thanks for that, I've noticed even the trunk of the smaller one has straightened out, it looked a bit bent before. I'd forgotten about that, might be responding to the fact it's now better balanced.
     

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