What have I done to my poor Acer?

[SalsaLove]

I just got this Acer, planted it but then with the awful snow, sleet and wind last week decided to cover it. When I unwrapped it this morning I was met with this sorry state of affairs! 😢 Is there any hope it will recover?

Oh dear, that does look a sorry state. What did you cover it with?

Garden fleece. I wrapped it lightly and secured it with two clothes pins so the wind wouldn’t take away the fleece.

My last Acer was chopped in half by the tree surgeon so we got this one in case the old one died. Of course, it’s fine!

Acer are actually pretty tough, I am sure it will be fine in a day or so. I assume you didn't do anything weird when you planted it? It may have been a bit pampered before you bought it so the leaves might have not liked the cold.

Before I wrapped it.

We actually kept it inside for a week before planting it, because it was cold. Then we had gorgeous weather, planted it, and wouldn’t you know…..spring snow!

I wouldn't worry, it still looks alive. It should fluff up again when the sun comes out. Worst case scenario it grows new small branches & takes a while to get going.

Wrapping it was your mistake, unfortunately, unless you made a ‘tent’ to keep the fleece off the new leaves. In future, just put it somewhere a bit sheltered unless weather to be absolutely dreadful.

Hopefully it will recover.

It looks like it's sulking at you put it in a good spot and it should fluff back up

Many thanks to everyone for the advice 🥰

I think it will be ok! For what it’s worth we have three acers in our garden. One just planted and two are a year old. So they are bigger than yours but not yet fully established. We are in Aberdeen and they are plenty hardy enough to survive the freezing temps and snow we’ve had - not to mention storm Arwen (and all the others). Fingers crossed it does survive!

Thank you so much for your information. I will move it over to a sunnier spot for now.

It won’t like it too sunny. Acers are very susceptible to drought and therefore don’t like too much sun or too much wind.

@MereDintofPandiculation

It won’t like it too sunny. Acers are very susceptible to drought and therefore don’t like too much sun or too much wind.

Yes they are a forest tree so ideally they want a sheltered spot with dappled shade. Ours is ok in relatively full sun because, well, we’re in Aberdeen!

@MereDintofPandiculation

It won’t like it too sunny. Acers are very susceptible to drought and therefore don’t like too much sun or too much wind.

Depends what variety it is - some of them love sun. The OP's looks like perhaps Garnet, which does very well in full sun.

I think I've managed to kill my Acer. New last year. No sight of new growth yet this year

@Peaness

I think I've managed to kill my Acer. New last year. No sight of new growth yet this year

Scrape the bark a bit near the soil and see if it's still green. I have a lot of Acers here, and the different varieties are at very different rates, some still barely have buds. Very dependent on variety and on your location, so fingers crossed that it's OK.

Mine looks like that and I didn't cover it. New shoots on it a couple of weeks ago, looking perky and thriving .... then some shit weather and it's gone all droopy.

This one gets morning sun and then shade after 11. It’s still sulking this morning. It’s a

Acer palmatum Inaba-shidare

That variety is more prone to weather damage unfortunately, as it has the lacy deeply-divided leaves. I'd move it out of morning sun and into the shade all day for a few weeks. It's unlikely that the tops of the branches will recover, but there are bound to be latent buds further down. Give it time, but what it doesn't need right now is sunshine or fertiliser.

@yamadori

That variety is more prone to weather damage unfortunately, as it has the lacy deeply-divided leaves. I'd move it out of morning sun and into the shade all day for a few weeks. It's unlikely that the tops of the branches will recover, but there are bound to be latent buds further down. Give it time, but what it doesn't need right now is sunshine or fertiliser.

Many thanks!