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Acers in alkaline soil

dominia30dominia30 Posts: 23
in Plants

Hi All, We want to plant a small acer - probably Garnet, Inaba-shidare or Crimson Queen - in the lawn where it's quite well sheltered and sunny but some shade from a magnolia. Main problem is limey soil. If we replace as much as possible with ericaceous soil and top up with iron sulphate, is it likely to not only flourish but get good autumn colour?

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,351

    I can only speak from my experience. I'm in Essex on heavy Essex clay and soil is slightly alkaline.

    I planted this acer about 25yrs ago -

    image

    I didn't add anything to the soil and never have.

    I also have 3 other acers in the garden and they all perform very well

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    I'd just prepare the ground well, dig in some good quality compost (you can use ericaceous if you want, but it isn't necessary, well composted leaf mould is the best, or good garden compost), ensure there is good drainage (which should come with chalky soil) and plant. Leave it to sort itself out. All other things sound good, so I don't doubt the tree will be fine. Do it now, while the soil's still (relatively) warm so the roots can get away before next spring's demands on them.

    H-C    

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,662

    Westonbirt Arboretum has fabulous acers. It's in the Cotswolds - limestone through and through. They are not as sensitive to soil pH as some ericaceous plants. Planting and mulching with leaf mould will help a new acer to get established, once it's growing well it'll probably be fine.

    Pete8 - that's a beautiful tree image

    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first” 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,351

    Thanks!

    I've had several photographers last week taking photos - I felt quite proud

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • dominia30dominia30 Posts: 23

    Thanks All for fast and positive responses. Pete, that's exactly the fiery colour we're after, great. Raisingirl, it was our visit to Westonbirt that made us fall in love with acers, in our dreams...

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,351

    The picture is an acer palmatum disectum

    Good luck!

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • dominia30dominia30 Posts: 23

    That's v interesting about James Wong, he does like to challenge and provokeimage Anyone know where he says this? I can't find anything online.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,351

    Having planted my first acer some 25yrs ago in slightly alkaline soil (see pic above) and have 4 acers around the garden too all doing very well, I can safely say that acers are fine on my alkaline Essex clay.

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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