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Acers, preferred soil type?

MeomyeMeomye Posts: 849
Could someone please clarify which soil and food type Acers prefer? Website say can be planted in chalk but then say they like slightly acidic food. I also noticed recently Monty said to give them an ericaceous mulch.  t i a

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,025
    Neutral to acidic is ideal for most  of them.
    It isn't just soil type that's relevant though. There are lots of factors to growing them successfully.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GreenbirdGreenbird Posts: 237
    I mulch with ericaceous. Don't do anything else special apart from keep them watered and out the wind. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,243
    They grow well here on my slightly acidic clay soil.
    I've never fed mine that are in the ground, but give them a mulch of home-made compost in the spring.
    Seaweed extract would be good for them, but probably only 2-3 times during the growing season.
    The most important thing though as Fg says above Netutral to Acidic soil or ericaceous compost if in a pot. 
    If it's in a pot try and avoid tap water (unless your water is very soft) rainwater is much better.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,161
    Mine are in slightly acidic clay soil sheltered from wind and too much sun. The big one gets nothing but rain and the smaller one gets a squirt of the hose if it looks thirsty.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Mine is growing very well after having it for about 15 years its  taken  me a long time to get it this beautiful and moving it around different places, however iv bought a large pot to repot  it,  iv only ever used  multi purpose compost a small bit of manure  mixed, and bit of grit. The new pot is twice the size of the one its in, i am worried its going to be to big? what can i put at the bottom of the new pot? i don't want to ever repot  it again?  I have another new acer and repotted  it last week, the pot had cracked so now i have to  move it again? is this to much stress on the tree, any tips or advise with any of my acers will be much appreciated.     

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