Acers will be fine in most types of soil though will do best when there is a slight acidity in the soil. But don’t worry too much about the soil. The vibrant colours and distinctive lobed shape of their leaves make Maple trees a great addition to any garden or planting scheme. They can be trees or shrubs and come in a variety of shapes including upright, spreading, mound forming and round. The smaller varieties of Japanese Maple are ideal for any sized garden, with many being suitable for growing in a pot. For those with larger gardens, Norway and Red Maples create a stunning feature. Maple trees are all deciduous but if you want winter interest, choose Coral Bark or Snake Bark Maples for their colourful or patterned bark. Acer palmatum dissectum 'Inaba-Shidare' - small, decidous trees grown for their graceful habit, beautiful coloured foliage that is often deeply dissected the Acer is a perfect addition to any garden especially if you're looking to add some autumn interest. Many cultivars are extreemly slow growing, making them perfect for small gardens or grown in pots. Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden. Whilst primarily known for their leaves, Maple trees can also produce flowers and fruits called 'samaras'. The fruits spin as they fall due to their shape and are commonly known as 'maple keys', 'whirlybirds' and 'polynoses'. Children often refer to them as helicopters and the US army even designed an air drop supply carrier based on this 'helicopter' technique. History & Uses of Acer Trees

These plants can grow up to five feet with arching branches that will offer shade while also framing your landscape perfectly. It is very bushy with wonderful bronze leaves. This tree will arrive at your door as an already established plant in a 5-litre pot. Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces. Japanese Acers can live to over 100 years, so it's worth taking extra care in selecting and planting your tree as it will hopefully be a lifetime investment.Acers prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil so a good choice is a peat-free ericaceous potting compost. When a Japanese Acer has been grafted some leaf reversion may take place or incorrect growth from the grafted base. If this occurs, pinch or prune out the incorrect stems once the leaves have fully unfurled. With this beautiful acer you'll see vibrant shades of red foliage right through until autumn. This tough little tree will grow in small gardens or pots and will only ever grow to a height of around two metres. If it becomes too large this plant is ideal for pruning to keep it smaller. Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

There are two main reasons why acers are so suitable for gardeners with restricted space. Firstly, and most importantly, as we mentioned above most acers or Japanese maples will only grow to around six feet. Unfortunately by this stage it is often too late to save the plant, but if caught earlier before the roots decompose then action can be taken to rectify the situation.Plant in a loam-based or ericaceous compost with a high portion of organic matter and good drainage. The new pot should not be significantly bigger as this can encourage too much water retention, just the next size up will be fine.

They are very hardy trees but they will do best in a sheltered aspect. They don’t do well in very strong winds. For red and purple (variegated) varieties a position out of full sun will prevent their foliage from scorching. Keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If there is snow fall, gently brush the snow from the branches to ensure it does not weigh down the framework and cause damage. Pruning Advice For Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Trees

Green Island Gardens

If you have an existing Acer in an exposed position, try to erect a windbreak or sunshade of some sort.