3 bits of advice needed...
pierre_de_gaye
Posts: 155
Hi all,
1) on a young 'Spartan' apple tree planted a year ago or so, I recently noticed some winged grey-coloured insects with short bodies clustered on some of the leaves (a little bigger than aphids, not sure if these are aphids or not) - could anyway advise what they might be? I'd sprayed them around October time but of course the leaves are now no more;
2) I lost an Acer 'Osakazuki' to what I believe was verticillium wilt in the baking summer of 2 years ago. A lovely tree that was barely in the ground 2 years and a disappointing loss. It was in an east-facing spot and prone to scorching from wind, the sun obviously finished it off good and proper. It was an expensive tree but not one that I thought would be ever lost to scorch. I plan to purchase another for a container this time that can be put in part-shade, though I may well go for a purple-leaved form this time for added colour interest. Just wondered if anyone knew of such things happening to the Osakazuki or whether there are any Acer palmatum cultivars that can bear full sun;
3) I purchased a blackberry recently - it has 3 tiny, thin canes that were bunched together with the usual garden centre plastic tape/stapled to a green cane. I've since tied it with natural twine in a similar manner to a taller bamboo cane. Some folk talk of a 'square' of canes but that wouldn't work in my case since the canes are so thin/young. What is the correct way to support a blackberry in a container once it starts to grow? Should all stems simply be bunched to this central bamboo?
Thanks all.
1) on a young 'Spartan' apple tree planted a year ago or so, I recently noticed some winged grey-coloured insects with short bodies clustered on some of the leaves (a little bigger than aphids, not sure if these are aphids or not) - could anyway advise what they might be? I'd sprayed them around October time but of course the leaves are now no more;
2) I lost an Acer 'Osakazuki' to what I believe was verticillium wilt in the baking summer of 2 years ago. A lovely tree that was barely in the ground 2 years and a disappointing loss. It was in an east-facing spot and prone to scorching from wind, the sun obviously finished it off good and proper. It was an expensive tree but not one that I thought would be ever lost to scorch. I plan to purchase another for a container this time that can be put in part-shade, though I may well go for a purple-leaved form this time for added colour interest. Just wondered if anyone knew of such things happening to the Osakazuki or whether there are any Acer palmatum cultivars that can bear full sun;
3) I purchased a blackberry recently - it has 3 tiny, thin canes that were bunched together with the usual garden centre plastic tape/stapled to a green cane. I've since tied it with natural twine in a similar manner to a taller bamboo cane. Some folk talk of a 'square' of canes but that wouldn't work in my case since the canes are so thin/young. What is the correct way to support a blackberry in a container once it starts to grow? Should all stems simply be bunched to this central bamboo?
Thanks all.
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2) All Japanese maples are prone to scorching from either sun or wind or a combo. Their leaves are quite thin and the dissected forms even more prone so make sure your new plant has adequate shelter and also enough moisture to keep the foliage hydrated but not drown the roots.
3) Blackerry canes need to be spread out in a fan shape so each one gets full sun to ripen the fruits. Tying all 3 to one central cane will not be productive. In addition, they fruit on the previous season's new wood whilst growing the next season's so I always tie the new ones loosely to a central support as they emerge leaving the fanned ones plainly separate. After harvesting, cut out the old fruited stems and spread out the new ones. Continue the cycle each autumn.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
I suspect your acer was weakened by drought and then maybe verticillum took advantage.
I planted a small acer palmatum disectum 30 ish years ago in my front garden in full sun and it's been very happy there.
I thought I'd lost an acer Katsura to drought and what I also suspect was verticillum wilt a couple of years ago. It was looking very poorly with black rings on cut branches and loss of new leaves. But over the last year (which has been significantly wetter) it seems to be recovering.
My acer palmatum last autumn in all its glory -
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I suppose I could insert 3 pea sticks in a triangle and tie each of the current canes (again they are barely 30cm in length and very thin) to those, which as you say tie the new ones to the central bamboo as they emerge (bunched)?
Pete - very nice Acer there.
I doubt it was vine weevil re: the Acer - there was dieback etc and the whole thing smacked of verticillium if i'm honest given the scorching temperatures that year.
If you can't put it in the ground, make sure it's in a decent sized pot too or it will go hungry and thirsty and that will affect fruiting.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
They do best with some shade from the hottest part of the day, and shelter from the wind. Some varieties will cope better than others too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw