Steve Valentine's talk
on acers, specifically Japanese Maples, was authoritative,
entertaining and affective. Steve grows his acers mainly in pots and
with his care they have survived a quarter century in Shap's often
harsh climate.
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| Sycamore |
Relatives of these glorious trees are our native Field Maple (Acer campestre) and our now naturalised, taller and perhaps invasive Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Sycamores were introduced in the 1500s.
Japanese
Maples vary in size
Medium
Tree – Container Specimens – Bonsai
Container
Advice for Acers – the basics:
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1.
Ericaceous Compost
2.
Good drainage crocks
3.
Bubble wrap line pots if kept in cold/harsh climate
4.
Spring – vine weevil preventative treatment
5.
Annual spring feed & autumn tonic
6.
Keep soil moist
7.
No pruning except for 3 D's – Diseased / Dying / Dead plant
matter
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Japanese
Maple Care
|
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Do's
|
Don't
s
|
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Provide
frost protection
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Don't
change pot size too often. Acers like their roots to be
constricted, so only increase pot size by one. Also they are very
slow growing – so expensive for a specimen
|
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Spray
foliage in dry weather
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Never
change pot size for bonsai.
This
an ancient Japanese Art
|
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Dappled
light
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Very
thin leaves & bark but also this gives ethereal beauty
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Avoid
bright sunlight
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Shelter
from drying winds
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||
Feed
regularly - biannual
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Prune
– except for 3 D's
|
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Every
2-3 yrs,
remove
top soil by 2 inches & replace
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Don't
buy grafted acers,
as
the graft may be weak
|
|
Top
dress pots with decorative stones. This also gives the pot weight
& reduces evaporation on hot days.
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NEVER
add Lime
|
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Steve's
Top Six Favourite Japanese Maples are:
A. palmatum 'beni
schichiheng'
green/white/cream
foliage in spring
upright
red form of bark / goblet shaped
changing
colours
A. palmatum
dissectum -'viridus'
Weeping
asymmetrical habit
Tiny
/ dusky green
Spectacular
in Autumn
Grey
winter bark
A. palmatum 'beni kagami'
Gets
tall if not pot grown / but slow growth
champagne
glass shape
best
upright
Deep
red almost black in sun
A. shirasawanum aureum
“Full
moon acer”
yellow/green
peripheral
leaf – blood red
excellent
companion in acer garden ~5'6”
A. palmatum sango kaku
Coral
red bark - winter
wine
glass shape
AGM
A. palmatum osakazuki
Tiny
– wee pot <15” high
Pendula
– leaf like a saki cup
Gorgeous
at dusk
'Quality
beyond anything else'
Bark
almost black
Steve Valentine is a Ceramic Artist. At Newtonrigg College, Penrith he trained as a Garden Designer and Landscaper. He is currently working at Askham Hall. He is passionate about Japanese Maples and has an extensive 25 year collection of them.
www.edgeceramics.co.uk
Steve recommends the following reference book:
Written
by PMR
Various reference
sources used
