Japanese Acer

Looks dead, can anyone help, leaves just shrivelled and fell off!

Acer

Reply from Otto

It looks like it's a very large tree in a very small pot. Although Acers can be grown in containers they need more space and are often more vulnerable.

The preferred aspect for acers is East facing, too much midday sun and wind will scorch the leaves which may be what has happened to yours.

Do you have anywhere you can plant it out?

Acer

Reply from Julie Clark

Thanks Otto,

Will take your advice

much appreciated

Unhappy Acer

Reply from Kathy C

Hi, Julie,
I agree with Otto, the pot is far too small for a tree this size. Hopefully it is still alive, even though it has lost all its leaves (there is the fact that it won't be able to make food for energy without leaves). You can check to see if it is alive by scraping away a tiny portion of bark with your fingernail - not the main trunk, but a fairly large side branch If you see green, it is still alive. If that is the case, I would suggest repotting it ASAP. Go up a size and make sure the roots aren't circling around the rootball. If they are, try to spread them out. You can trim any that have gotten too long and wrapped around. Once repotted, don't feed the plant - Acers don't need much in the way of fertiliser and any stressed plant like this should not be fed. Give a feed in about a month. Next spring, make sure it is protected from frost, high wind, and too much direct sun when the leaves are unfurling - all of those can cause leaf scorch which will cause leaf scorch and the tree will drop them. There is hope - I had the same thing happen to a potted Acer I had in the front garden when I lived in London. I thought it was more than sheltered, but I was wrong. It lost most leaves, but it rallied and was fine the next year. Good luck and let me know how you get on.
Kathy C

Acer

Reply from Julie Clark

Thanks Kathy C

Two resounding 'needs repotting' answers,

Will take advice

much appreciated