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Help - should my acer palmatum be in acid soil?

lindsay2610lindsay2610 Posts: 100
in Plants

Last autumn I planted a Japaneses maple, Acer Palmatum 'Shaina' in my alkaline soil in a shady spot.  The label on the plant from the nursery said it was suitable for all types of soil.

I was just following up on maintenance advice on the Shoot Gardening website, and it says plant in acid soil.

I'm panicking now - do I dig it up and pot it in acid soil?  Or will the fact that it's still alive and budding mean it will be okay?  Perhaps I should fertilise it with ericaceous compost and hope for the best?

Thanks for any advice!

Posts

  • Tropical SamTropical Sam Posts: 1,488

    It is wrong advice based on that in nature they are found in dappled sun in woodlands. They like any loose compost, so any from the garden centre, with a mulch and feed and they will be fine.

  • marshmellomarshmello Posts: 683

    I've never planted any of my acers in acid compost and I have quite a collection - always multi-purpose but never in that cheap woody rubbish. Humax I use.

  • Matty2Matty2 Posts: 4,817

    I have mine in garden soil and give it a top dressing of ericaceous compost in spring and then in late September. And the odd feed of ericaceous plant food - (don't always rememberimage

  • lindsay2610lindsay2610 Posts: 100
    Wonderful, thanks everyone, what a relief! I'll give it a dressing with some ericaceous compost tomorrow.
  • VoniVoni Posts: 1

    Can I plant my acre in ericatias soil

  • christopher71christopher71 Posts: 1

    i moved 2 of my acers from a position of midday onwards sun as the leaves were becoming quite scorched to a position next to my shed in practically full shade and guess what? even as late as the 3rd week in september i have new buds breaking out into leaf ! It will be interesting to see what happens next spring !

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