Acer Problem

robo4

Hi i bought an Acer a couple of months ago and all was doing well until this happened.
Its quite sheltered where it is and is not in direct sun all day.
Is it too much water or not enough as we have a water meter to try to keep an eye on it but we cant seem to get it right. 
Any help would be appreciated.

Fairygirl

Possibly wind damage, but they do best with semi shade - especially from other planting.
Water meters are generally not as good as using your finger. Poke it in ,and water when the top inch or two is dry. 
Although Acers need moisture, they also need good drainage. How and where is it planted? Is it in a pot or in the ground? 
It looks quite a large specimen, but difficult to tell from those photos. That's also difficult if they don't have optimum conditions.

robo4

We got both of these at the same time. The one on the left is going really well where as the one on the right is the one with the problem.

robo4

Couldn't work out how to rotate the picture.

Fairygirl

It actually doesn't look too bad in that pic. It may just have been a bit of sun or wind damage.
If it's just that tiny bit at the top, I wouldn't worry too much. Just check the condition of the soil with your finger, rather then the water meter. They're big pots, and assuming they're in a suitable soil mix, they shouldn't dry out too quickly, but in hot or windy weather, they'd probably need watered every couple of days. If you have reasonable rainfall for several hours, that should be enough to do one day, but if the fence is sheltering them from rain, which often happens, you may have to water regardless of any rain   
I'm assuming the pots have good drainage holes in them?

robo4

Yes they have a few holes in each pot. What about feeding them ?

thevictorian

I have a couple of acers with the same problem and as mine are planted in the ground where they've stayed moist all year, I know it's wind/sun scorch. They get this every year because they are in a more open aspect now the neighbour has removed their hedge.
Every year they come back without any signs of last year's damage.

I find with the increasing amount of wind we are getting that plants do far better in the ground where they seem more robust. As acer are relatively slow growing and if you don't plan on moving them, you might be better popping them in the ground where watering won't be as important.

Fairygirl

No , they don't need feeding. There should be enough sustenance in the soil mix in the pot, and they'll just need some of that mix replaced each year if they're staying potted. 

robo4

Many thanks for your advice 

Fairygirl

I should have added that you can give them a sprinkle of something like B,F&B in spring, or an occasional liquid seaweed feed [which is excellent for any foliage plant] through the growing season, but they don't need much in the way of food if the conditions are otherwise good. 
The problem with gravel is that it can be hard to determine the moisture content too, so just be aware of that. Bark is a very good substitute, as it also breaks down and helps the soil conditions in pots.
If they're staying in pots long term, you'll need to move them up slowly in terms of pot size, or else they'll need root pruning   

Nanny Beach

We don't feed ours,they are in Ericacious compost,I scrape off and top dress with more every spring,they are all in semi shade under trees,no mid day sun. I have still lost some to wind burn.all bar one is potted