Acer & Japanese Maple

Japanese maple chlorosis is yellowing between the leaf veins caused by alkaline soil that locks iron out of reach of the roots. The veins stay green while the tissue between them turns pale yellow or white. Soil pH above 7.0 is the main trigger. Left untreated, chlorosis weakens the tree and can cause branch dieback. […]

The best fertilizer for Acer and Japanese maple trees is a slow release, low nitrogen granular fertilizer applied once in early spring before bud break. Look for an NPK ratio close to 10 6 4 or an organic tree formula around 4 3 4. Never use standard lawn fertilizer. Overfeeding, especially in late summer, causes

An Acer, commonly called a Japanese maple, can be displayed indoors as a bonsai only for short periods, not kept there permanently. Success depends on bright indirect light, cool temperatures, and a genuine winter dormancy period spent outdoors or in an unheated space. The critical requirement most guides skip is cold dormancy. Without it, an

Acer pests and diseases include aphids, scale insects, spider mites, vine weevil, verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, and phytophthora root rot. Correct identification depends on symptom location, timing, and pattern. Most problems respond to targeted treatment within one growing season. Untreated verticillium wilt and phytophthora root rot can kill a mature acer, so accurate diagnosis matters.

Acer palmatum is one of the most sought-after ornamental trees in cultivation, and with good reason. Its deeply lobed, palmate leaves, elegant branching structure, and extraordinary autumn colour make it a focal point in any garden, from a large open border to a single container on a sheltered terrace. Growing it well, however, requires an

Working out what to plant with Acer trees is one of the more satisfying puzzles in garden design, because a well-placed Japanese maple is really only half of a picture. The other half is everything planted around its feet and beneath its canopy. An Acer palmatum grown in isolation on a bare patch of lawn

Propagating an Acer tree is one of the most rewarding projects an ornamental gardener can take on. A single parent tree can become the starting point for dozens of new trees, whether it is a prized Japanese maple cultivar or a seed-grown field maple. I have taken cuttings from my own Bloodgood Japanese maple more

Few plants reward so little effort with so much beauty as the weeping acer. Acer palmatum var. dissectum, commonly known as the cutleaf, laceleaf, or weeping Japanese maple, forms a low, cascading mound of finely dissected, feathery foliage. It turns the front of a border or the corner of a patio into a genuine focal

Choosing the right tree for a small garden is one of the most important decisions a gardener can make. Unlike a perennial or a shrub, a tree is a decades-long commitment. It will define the shape, light levels, and character of the space for years to come. Acers, commonly known as maples, are consistently among

The most common question gardeners ask when they see an acer tree standing bare and leafless in winter is whether something has gone wrong. The answer, in the vast majority of cases, is no. Most acer trees are deciduous. They lose their leaves every autumn as part of a perfectly natural annual cycle, stand bare