Hello all,although the answer is probably 'no....you're doing something wrong',I wonder if anyone out there knows of any problems growing 'Osakazuki'? I have some 30 odd maples,8 in the ground,the rest in pots.Apart from my annual spring overwatering of new recruits,they all seem to do ok.......except for my 2 Osakazukis. One is about 6ft in the ground,the other was a 3year graft in a pot and still looks like it.In the 3years I've had these two,I'm sure they haven't ever put out an extra leaf in growth.Infact if they end the year with the same number of leaves as they started I'm lucky ha ha. Trouble is they both seem quite healthy to look at but just sit there all year,and may lose the odd leaf or two throughout but that's it.The inground tree is planted an inch or so above the soil level and the potted one is treated no differently to all the others.If it's any help,the autumn colour is usually a washed out pumpkin orange though any lost leaves are bright red. As it seems to be considered a strong cultivar and are not planted in a risky spot by any means,I wonder if anyone knew of any special needs or foibles with this particular cultivar. A local nurseryman who is by no means a maple expert just happened to mention he HAS to use bark with this particular tree.My soil is a bit alkaline, about 7.3 using home tester but this doesn't affect the other trees or be applicable to the potted one.Is it particularly acid loving?Perhaps now I've written this they'll make me a liar and shoot up,but nothing's happening yet. Any ideas?...coincidence.... or have I just got two bum trees?
There are many maple experts here who may be able to help you better than I. I would just like to say that our 2 Acer palmatum Osakazuki planted in the ground in acid soil, shelter woodland conditions were painfully slow before they did anything. So maybe you will just have to be patient.
maybe the root system is in bad conditions,if possible that the root are rolls, this is not good condition for fast grown ,another possibility is the graft with verticillium ,many news in faq about this problem,if possible add some pics
My suspicions would tally with what Alex says, in that the root system may well not be heading out into the surrounding soil. No tree will grow until the root system gets established. Just a thought.......
Thanks,Alex,thanks Sam,sounds like I've gotta take a look down there then. Alex,excuse my ignorance but what does 'root are rolls' mean?.I know when I look at roots all I see is a mass of brown hairs in dirt...what should I expect to see/not see in healthy roots?...bearing in mind the little one was repotted in autumn. Also is it ok to disturb them now, or should I wait until autumn?....thanks again
when maples remain for many time in one small pot the root grown rolled ,when re-pot or plant in the soil the important care is unrolled the root ,because if the root remain rolled the maples (or another plants)not live good and not grow. in September check the maple in pot,now is possible check only verticiulum
We would call this 'root balled' A root balled plant needs a little loosening of the roots to encourage them to extend into the surrounding soil and establish
Hmm it's amazing what you miss.Had a look at small potted maple,noticed the central stem is really not well.Cut off seemingly dead portion,though can't see black lines in cambrium there is some discolouration though this could be just where it's died.The remaining branches are not as bad but also have issues,but the photo is from very low so I think it's on borrowed time now....C'est la vie...not to worry,it will live on with the many seedlings I obtained from it(though they look nothing like it) Luckily the in-ground maple has no such issues.Had a quick dig around,must admit I expected the root spread to be further,but they didn't look confined or balled.As I went deeper started to come accross very very fine white roots so decided to stop there in-case they were the maple's.However I was surprised at how extremely dry it was down there. I must admit this maple has never had the bright green leaves like the sick little maple and often had that brown/red tint(see photo)which I thought was caused by the sun.Thinking about it the leaves have never been as horizontal either.Surely it couldn't be something as simple as underwatering that has stunted it could it?I'd feel a bit stupid if it was,especially as I'm renouned for overwatering ha ha.
