Acer Autumn Moon

Acer Autumn Moon is best suited in a position that gets

• Full sun

Acer Autumn Moon is

• Frost Tolerant
• Deciduous
• Cold hardy

Acer Autumn Moon will thrive in soil that is

• Nutrient rich
• Free draining

Choose a sheltered position with morning sun or filtered light.

Autumn Moon works particularly well:

On the eastern side of a house
Beneath the light canopy of taller trees
In sheltered courtyards
Within woodland-style planting
Where surrounding shrubs provide protection from wind

Avoid extremely exposed sites.

Japanese Maples have delicate foliage, and Canterbury's hot summer nor'wester can be particularly hard on them.

Water deeply and regularly during the first couple of growing seasons while the root system establishes.

Don't rely entirely on light rainfall during Canterbury's warmer months.

Once established, continue watering during prolonged hot or dry weather.

Consistent soil moisture is particularly important during:

Spring leaf emergence
Hot summer weather
Extended nor'west conditions

Avoid repeatedly allowing the root zone to become bone dry.

A stressed Japanese Maple generally lets you know by developing brown, crispy leaf margins.

Apply organic mulch around the root zone to:

Retain soil moisture
Keep roots cool
Reduce weed competition
Moderate soil temperatures
Gradually improve the soil

Composted bark and other quality organic mulches work well.

Keep heavy mulch away from direct contact with the trunk.

Japanese Maples don't need aggressive feeding.

Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring if required.

Avoid excessive high-nitrogen fertilisers, which can encourage soft, vigorous growth that's more susceptible to wind and weather damage.

If the tree is growing steadily and looks healthy, there's no need to try and force it.

Autumn Moon isn't supposed to grow like a Leyland Cypress.

Very little pruning should be required.

Autumn Moon naturally develops an attractive branching framework and is generally best allowed to do its own thing.

Pruning should concentrate on:

Dead branches
Damaged growth
Crossing branches
Poorly positioned shoots
Maintaining a balanced shape

If pruning is necessary, make small, considered cuts rather than heavily reducing the canopy.

Avoid repeatedly clipping the outside of the tree, as this destroys the natural layered branching that makes Japanese Maples so attractive.

Acer 'Autumn Moon' is very cold hardy once established and handles Canterbury winters well.

The tree loses its leaves in autumn and enters winter dormancy.

Established dormant trees generally have little trouble with normal winter frost.

The more vulnerable period is spring, when tender new foliage emerges.

A hard late frost can damage fresh leaves, particularly in exposed frost pockets.

The tree will usually recover, but a slightly sheltered planting position reduces the risk.

For Japanese Maples in Canterbury, hot drying wind is often a bigger issue than winter cold.

Nor'west conditions can cause:

Brown leaf margins
Leaf scorch
Curling foliage
Premature leaf drop
Rapid moisture loss

Autumn Moon's pale spring and summer foliage can be particularly vulnerable if the tree is planted somewhere exposed.

Choose a sheltered location and maintain consistent soil moisture.

If you're considering the windiest corner of the property because "there's an empty space there", this probably isn't the tree to fill it.

Some browning around the leaf edges during hot summer weather doesn't necessarily mean the tree is diseased.

Leaf scorch can be caused by:

Excessive afternoon sun
Dry soil
Hot wind
Low humidity
Root stress
A combination of all of the above

Improve watering, maintain mulch and provide protection from harsh afternoon conditions where possible.

The slow growth and relatively compact habit make Autumn Moon an excellent candidate for a large container.

It's particularly effective in:

Courtyards
Patios
Entrance areas
Small gardens
Japanese-inspired spaces

Choose a generous container with excellent drainage and use quality growing media.

Container-grown Maples require more regular watering because their roots cannot access surrounding garden soil.

Keep containers out of the hottest afternoon positions.