Acer sapling under sun stress

I was increasingly worried about the sun killing our new Acer "Japanese maple" its leaves where browning and had crinkled edges

even though I applied yates drought shield leaf polymer it didnt work well enough. I also have a 2L drink bottle with a cut in flap for water and 300mm of hose into the deeper root zone for watering. But this isnt enough. ASAP after xmas I am investing in an automated watering system I will be doing drip watering to plants under the mulch but spending all money on other projects currently So this is a super budget tree first aid. The sapling is the twig near the black stake.

Knock together tree teepee

So I had left over 200mm x 50mm 2,4M planks and screwed them together at the top will my wife holding them together a pair at a time. With the 4 of them only a cyclone will move them so no need to bury them into the ground they are very stable.

I had some left over shade cloth. I have more if I need to shade the tree from other hot sun angles ie morning. I have some sun hitting it in the morning intentionally in case the tree wants some sun.

I hope this is enough to save it. Acers are meant to grow slow so this shelter might protect the acer for 5 years?

Acers will crinkle there leaves in heat stress but will grow them back pretty quickly I am told.

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Comments

MitchellMc

That looks like a very functional solution, @Jewelleryrescue. I hope your Japanese maple improves, but please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need advice. I'm sure our horticulturalists and gardening enthusiasts would be more than happy to assist.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/24504#Comment_24504

Hi @MitchellMc

I would be happy to hear from horticulturalists and gardening enthusiasts if there is a better way. I am always ready to learn from any one on any topic I am never locked into my own solutions that would be too foolish Even now I am still learning by project trial and error.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74892#Comment_74892

Hi All the Acer has half brown tinged leaves but is holding it own under shade now. The quickly erected ply of planks doing its job

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101149#Comment_101149

What's your watering regime been like, @Jewelleryrescue? Remember, it's time for water if the topsoil is dry when you stick your finger to full depth. Given it hasn't fully established a root system that can seek out its own water, you could need to be watering every other day if the weather is hot.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117494#Comment_117494

Hi @MitchellMc thanks for your interest in advancing my low to moderate plant skills.

I planted a small selection of Acers to type get those autunm and summer colors going

One ACer with red leaves died apparently red leaf variety more vunerable to heat stresse ?? I have another bigger Acer hybrid on Palmatum root graft going great no heat stress I planted that in front to screen the others once grown. I planted three together to try shade each other once fully grown but they have to live long enough first. I gave the acers the best mix I could to the depth of 75 cm straight down gardern mix with organic plant material (not manure) I mixed that with a 1/4 bag of peralite to try help with drainage. At the bottom of the tree hole I made a side vent ( Think lava tube in volcano but for water drainage out of a raised clay garden bed as not to form a clay water bowl) Clay is not solid and mixed with other dirt until I can lay down a watering system (thinking under mulch root watering) AS to invite the worms in and turn the that wider garden bed in to a loamy soil in 2 years. thats the theroy . I also installed a coke bottle with flap and extention dripper hose down to a depth 400- 500 mm with to ensure roots get watered later. Tree roots only 300 mm max on planting sprinkled roots with root powder and used a couple of doses of GOGO probiotic for soil. out wider i am using whoflungdung sparingly as it contains aged animal poop which isnt great for acers.

Being watering daily on hottest days in the evening after the heat soil finger test says barely wet so due again soon Acer s dont like wet feet so I am told so the ground drains well leaving residual moisture.

My current plan ? I am thinking dripper hose outlet 5 mm in coke bottle for deep down so whats the best dripper system for tree on top. I am doing a back bone of 19mm poly pipe with individual plant watering off shoots.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126970#Comment_126970

It sounds like you have the watering covered @Jewelleryrescue, but have a look at this helpful step-by-step article on How to install a drip irrigation watering system. I'm particularly fond of the drip rings that @Adam_W employs that encompass the whole plant. You can see them in step five.

Mitchell

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