Acer type & time to buy

[Oxo01]

I really want to buy a acer or black lace or maybe both but my garden is empty at the moment except for few pots of tomatoes.

I am having issues with getting a landscaper at the moment to even give a quote.

I was wandering if i should buy a acer now and keep it in a pot or just wait untill the garden is done but that will probarly be ages.

I want to buy and have seen larger ones but wandered if bought now will it just be twigs with a few leaves on.

Also I want a type that will not grow too tall even by maturity or will be ok with some cutting to keep it shorter.

I like the look of reddish ones and there's a orange one I've seen but open to suggestions.

Any ideas if I should wait or what type please.

I haven't got the patience or money for a large acer, so I bought a black lace elder few months ago. £6 half price at B&Q and it's about a metre high now. Will respond well to a regular chop once it gets too tall in a year or two.

I'd keep an acer in a pot for now with regular watering, and plant it out in the winter so it can develop its roots while it's dormant.

Thanks @Agapornis
I always liked black lace ones
How big was it when bought it ? Great price even if small.

Re: Acer still unsure how it will be on delivery ie no leaves etc at this time of year even if its larger one
Maybe ill have to go and have a look.

I think about 40 cm high? It was just 2 pencil thickness sticks really, it got busy very quickly.

Thanks
just had look on line none at your price but im comparing size and prices.

Sorry typo - it got big

B&M don't put their plants online. If they still have them in stock, they'd be £12 full price. But I knew it was a total bargain when I saw it! If you see one in the wild, I think they're fairly easy to root in water from cuttings. DM me if you're in East London!

Arrh thanks @Agapornis I'm in north London (but come under Middlesex)

I will keep looking for blk lace and Acer i think, plenty around although a lot of bigger ones have sold out ) just need to decide size for both and type of acer.

Definitely worth checking your local area and asking if you can take cuttings. Fwiw There are large black elders in the Olympic Park, in the children's playground next to the West Ham stadium. Not sure whether it's Black Beauty or Black Lace. But they don't like it when you take cuttings, so you'll have to be sneaky 😅

If you want to buy an acer, the best time to choose a variety is either in spring when the new leaves have just emerged so you can see the spring colour, or in autumn before leaf fall so you can see the autumn colour. Either time of year is fine for planting.

@Yamadori
Thanks for the tip.
Going round in circles looking at info, i decided I dont want ones that's grows really tall so narrowing it down at mo.