Maple - Acer

Maple or acers, to give them their botanic name, can vary in size from small shrubs to large trees. Growing very slowly, like the dwarf varieties of A. palmatum, to fast-growing species such as the Canadian maple (A. rubrum), growing to 30m tall and 8m wide in 20-25 years or the sugar maple (A. saccharum) reaching 20m in 20-30 years.

Dwarf Japanese maples are perfect for large containers on the patio and are perhaps the prettiest. Their often deeply-cut foliage can change from bright lime green in spring, to a lush green in summer followed by reds, yellows and oranges in a fiery blaze of colour in the autumn.

Some larger acers have trunks with decorative peeling or coloured bark which adds contrast and interest in the winter when there tends to be less colour in the garden.

Acers are generally hardy, but most of them prefer a sheltered position away from cold winds or sunny, exposed sites. Full sun can cause the leaves to curl and turn brown, ideally position them where they get the morning sun and afternoon shade.

Mulch well in spring.

Pruning

They shouldn't need pruning but if you want to remove a wayward or damaged branch, cut it off in the autumn after the leaves have fallen but before the end of December, this will reduce any sap bleeding and the chance of infection.