Acers: branches dying and leaf shrivel

[ByGraptharsHammer]

Based in the south east of England. Very dry this April and May.

My Acer trees are having leaf shrivel and branches die back. I am used to this to a degree, but this year it is really bad, to the point that I am having to water what are long established trees! They are still beautiful but I am wondering if they might be happier in a shadier spot?

Any help appreciated; I am beginning to think that they really can’t cope without a wet spring!

Acers are quite delicate and most don't like full sun so you could be correct.

We've been having a long dry spell where we are so quite possible it's worsening things. Mostly they don't tolerate being very wet OR very dry the fussy things. I assume you can't move it?

What about adding new trees or structure to shade it instead?

It’s a Sango Kaku. It could be moved. It’s been in place for five years. But it’s not happy and I worry that planting something to shade it might make the drought worse! It already has some shade from a nearby sycamore, but my feeling is that the sycamore pretty much takes all the moisture available.

My acers are currently thriving on North or East facing borders, sheltered spots out of the wind, with regular watering (collected rain water) + an occasional feed. Anything less and they behave as you describe.

Also in the SE. The wind along with the lack of rain has completely ruined 2 of mine. I think its because the leaves lose all their moisture from days and days of wind then theres no moisture to replace it. They were so pretty when the leaves unfurled.
I'm going to try to find a really sheltered spot in autumn and move them.

Yes I think I have concluded that it needs moving. It is a lovely tree and my father planted it for me. But each year it is doing worse. In a cooler spot it might do far better.

What is your soil type? Acers need somewhat acidic compost, but not too acidic. They don’t thrive in alkaline soil.

I went to a lecture by a professional grower the other week, and he said that unlike what is commonly perceived, acers do not necessarily prefer acidic soil. The idea has been perpetuated by a commercial producer of ericaceous compost who put something like 'ideal for acers' on the bag in order to sell more of it. 😂

Japanese maples are an understorey tree, and do prefer partial shade; they don't much like it windy or for the soil to dry out.

@ByGraptharsHammer The Sango kaku variety of Japanese maple is one of those with new spring growth which is not particularly frost hardy, and we have had overnight temperatures below freezing just lately, so that might be part of the problem.

Yes may be so on the temps! I have five acers. The Sango Kaku is just not happy. Increasing amounts of dead wood. It looks sad.

Leaf scorch on this tree will be due to lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure. Do you have a more sheltered position you can move it to? Maybe not under the sycamore as it may continue to suffer if the sycamore is taking all the water and nutrients. I'd also wait to move it as moving or repotting when they're in full leaf (albeit scorched leaves) can shock an acer.

I will mulch it and move it in the autumn. Acers seem to need a rainy April, and in SE England you don’t get them. The ground is bone dry from April onwards in my garden.

@Yamadori Interesting about the acidic soil... I hope it doesn't harm them though? I have just planted an acer in a mix of turf with acidic compost!

They're not that bothered, ericaceous compost isn't harmful to them. Most plants can tolerate a reasonable pH range, there aren't all that many that are really fussy.