Japanese maple, or acers, offer breath taking colour and foliage, especially in autumn where they’re a real focal point of the garden. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/GardenersWorldSubscribe
Plus, they can be grown in a pot, meaning they are suitable for gardens of all sizes, balconies, or even on a doorstep. In this No Fuss Guide, Alan Titchmarsh explains why you should grow Japanese maple trees and he repots an acer he’s just bought from the garden centre.
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For more advice on growing and caring for acers, visit the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine website: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-japanese-acers/
00:00 – Why you should grow an acer
01:13 – Don’t block the container’s drainage hole
02:24 – Teasing the roots
03:30 – Watering Japanese maples: how often?
04:40 – What sized pot should you use for an acer?
05:26 – Pruning acers – how often do Japanese maples need cutting back?
06:17 – When will an acer need potting on again?
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31 Comments
Very helpful info.Thanks
I love them ,I wish the grew a we bit faster ,😀
I have an orange acer in a large pot. In early spring it is the highlight of my garden
They hate wind and not too much sun
You can’t beat Maples there stunning
I wish, but I doubt that’ll work in our 4b northern climate. Dang it. It’s truly my favourite tree.
It’s just about the last tree to lose its leaves in the autumn, as long as it is kept nice and moist underground. Great autumn value.
I had two Acer Shainas in my garden for several years and they just don't grow. I know they are supposed to be slow growers but that is an understatement
Mr. Tithmarsh, you are very courageous to plant bux in these days. I had bux borders building 3 circles to go round my flower and vegetable beds. Because of working in 20 m3 compost from the town compost seller i could dare to plant it and never had the smallest problem with bux moths. Here in hungary with that bad soil (it is nearly concrete) i would not dare to plant bux. I first shall add a big layer of normal soil/coal soil/compost, till i can plant more demanding plants. I would love to own such nice bux plants like yours! The bux gives such a nice evergreen structure!
I m trying for the 3rd time to grow an acer, i ve never been very successful but this year it s in my front garden, in a pot against a warm wall but sheltered from the wind(hopefully)by wheelie bins so we ll see how i get on this time
I just bought a cottage in Northern Greece. I so want to buy an Acer. I tried once some years ago, planted in the Earth but it never really did much. I’m hoping now, after watching this vid, I will succeed. Wish me luck. 🤞🏻 The winters have been getting warmer and warmer ( only had two snowstorms that were gone the next day) so I think if I keep in on the balcony in winters and set it out in the yard protected from the hot, hot sun in the summers,I hope I have a chance at keeping it alive. Thank you for your video, very helpful.
I have had a few over the years. Lost to extreme heat. Three on the go at the moment. Such beautiful plants. Sometimes I worry my passion for them is abnormal.
Can you take cuttings off acers? If so how and when……
Should Acer be pruned?
I love acers. I have 35 🤦♀️ 10 of them in pots and they've been in the pots for around 25 years unfortunately we lost our largest one this year, we didn't realise the tap root had grown out the hole at the bottom and over winter it drowned 😢 I've priced a replacement at several local garden centres and it will cost around £300 to replace it, so we will start again with a smaller one that's just too expensive for us.
I have a beautiful big acer planted 30 years ago by my beloved late dad. Im moving soon and sadly have to leave tree behind, too big to take with me 😢.
I never pot a shrub into multipurpose- always John Innes.
I have a totally shaded area will an acer grow in a pot without sun
I had no idea you could grow Japanese Maples in a pot. I didn't think I would ever be able to have one in my patio garden until now. I have the perfect extra large pot and spot to let it grow❤. Thank You for this great information!!
Hi I have acers but I've ran out of rain water could I use filtered tap water please.
I planted an acer in a pot but the pot was not big enough as it turned out. It not only grew through the bottom of the pot and into the gravel but split the pot into several pieces. It didn’t seem to do the plant any harm as it is now very lush but it’s outgrowing the space and i would like to move it but I don’t see how I could do it. Maybe when it’s dormant. I do love it, though, it’s a bright yellow and looks stunning.
These maples are gorgeous. I bought one last year as a memorial to my dad. I chose a bigger pot than Alan's one here, about 35cm across. Very similar size tree. I honestly thought the Irish winter had killed it (apparently they don't like a lot of wind so I found the most sheltered spot I could). Anyway, this year it has doubled in size and the foliage is absolutely beautiful. I am so chuffed, and now I'm very tempted to get another one or two in different colours. I hope I'm right in thinking it will live happily in this pot for another 2-3 years, but I'm not sure how I would go about repotting it if gets massive 🙂
Love his delivery. So pleasant
What compost type should I use for this please? I can’t quite make out what brand/type he’s using.
We had one in a big pot, did wonderful for the first year and then……………..bye bye………….. 😭
I have a acer in a three foot across pot that is easily fiveft tall now.Starts off orange with red leaves in spring,goes green in summer then deep red in autumn,bought it as a shrub from morrisons years ago!. I now have a all year round deepred one im trying to grow as big
Legend 🪴
Never been a gardener but I could watch Alan all day.. thank you sir 😊
I had one in a pot at my front garden bye the door , someone stole it 🤦🤦🤦
Man I bought my maple when it's was tiny. And all the leaves have shriveled. Can't seem to hack sun or wind 😩
Can you plant in the ground?