If the fungus has only affected a very small section of an established Acer and the rest is unaffected, then you can try just pruning the damaged branches to the point that they are healthy.

Acer palmatum dissectum 'Stella Rossa' - slow growing deciduous Acer with lacy, pink-red foliage in the spring, which darkens to a rich purple in the summer, finally changing to bright flame-red in the autumn. Weeping habit, ideal for growing in containers, or for in a small garden. Overly wet conditions will have the same effect as roots become compromised, stopping them from functioning.Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required. Keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If there is snow fall, gently brush the snow from the branches to ensure it does not weigh down the framework and cause damage. Pruning Advice For Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Trees Japanese Acer are very prone to leaf scorch in both windy or excessively sunny positions. Red/Purple leaved varieties with green leaves or poor autumn colour may indicate insufficient light levels. If your Japanese Maple doesn't seem to be succeeding after a couple of years, don't be afraid to dig it up and try moving it somewhere else. Location is probably the most important factor in the success of your tree, so don't be afraid of a bit of trial and error. The best time to move a Japanese maple tree is late summer or early autumn, at least one month before the first frost. They are reasonably forgiving of disruption providing you cut a wide and deep hole and leave as much soil clinging to the roots as possible when you dig them up. This could be another tree or shrub, a shed, or even just a temporary tarp during windy or very sunny conditions.

Acer palmatum 'Shaina' - a medium sized compact deciduous Acer, with an upright growth habit. Fantastic bright red spring leaves turn a brilliant dark red in summer, followed by bright crimson in autumn. It will grow to form a dense and compact globe of small red foliage - a slow growing Japanese maple that is an ideal selection for containers or small gardens. Prefers partial shade, but can tolerate full sun, as long as the plant is shaded for a small part of the day. The tree you receive from us will already be five to six feet tall. We’ll ship it to you in a 7.5 litre pot all ready for planting. Acer palmatum 'Butterfly' - an upright shrub bearing 5-7 lobed leaves irregulary margined with creamy-white leaves that can sometimes be tinged pink. Acers will be fine in most types of soil though will do best when there is a slight acidity in the soil. But don’t worry too much about the soil. They are both a focal point and a focus of conversion. They make wonderful features and will be the crowning glory in any garden. They look simply majestic.Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' - an upright palmatum producing think bunched-up curled leaves giving the acer a unique 'Lions Head' appearance.

Prevention is better than a cure, so do not overwater susceptible plants in the garden and maintain good ventilation around the stem by regularly clearing debris. It’s fair to say that even the most novice gardeners should be able to achieve great success with acer trees. Maintenance wise acers are not very demanding. Keep them well watered in their first 6 -12 months but after that they’ll only need watering during hot and dry spells. The exception here is if you have planted your acer in a container. In that case water them regularly - once a day at least in very hot weather. Once planted, take the container to your desired location and position on pot 'feet' to support drainage.

Protect containerised specimens from frost over the winter by wrapping the containers in a few layers or horticultural fleece, secured with garden twine; a couple of sheets of bubble wrap as a good alternative.

Use a container no more than double the size of the pot your tree is growing in. Any type of container is fine but it's essential it has good drainage. If necessary, drill a number of holes in the centre of the base. Holes can be drilled in most containers – for ceramic ones use a slow-speed drill and a masonry bit, making a small hole first and then enlarging it with larger bits. Containerised trees can be planted at any time of year providing your ground is not icy, snow-covered or water-logged. It's also best to avoid excessively windy days to avoid the risk of your plant being damaged if it accidentally topples over. If you have the choice, plant in the autumn at least one month before the first frost. Acer palmatum 'Sango-Kaku' - a large, slow-growing deciduous Acer, with coral-red young branches bearing lobed leaves which open pinkish-yellow, maturing to bright green in the summer, and golden yellow in the autumn. Small red flowers often appear in spring/summer. Excellent for providing year round interest. Leaf colour is best in partial shade, with dappled sunlight. No routine pruning required. Pot grown Acers are particularly vulnerable to winter frosts. Wrap your containers with fleece or bubble wrap. Give your tree a good thorough watering. We find it's best to construct a 3-4 inch (10cm) high ridge of soil around the edge of your planting hole to create a watering basin. This will hold irrigation water and concentrate it over the roots. Water the basin and allow the water to sink into the ground, repeating several times to ensure even the lower parts of the root system are fully watered.

How big can acer trees grow?

Water your tree regularly during dry weather for the first 2 seasons. As a rough guide water once a week from spring to autumn if there has been no rainfall and twice a week during particularly hot weather. Partial or dappled shade is required for variegated varieties to prevent the leaves from being scorched by the strong afternoon sun. Purple and red leaved trees require a decent amount of sunlight to develop their rich, dark complexion, whilst green-leaved Acers tolerate full sun but do best with light shade at the hottest part of the day. If you have an existing Acer in an exposed position, try to erect a windbreak or sunshade of some sort. If there has been a heavy snowfall, carefully brush off any accumulation of snow that may cause the branches to snap, being careful not to be too rough with the branches. Any ice frozen to the branches is best left alone. Sitting in wet soil for too long can cause issues with the roots and can encourage fungi to develop, which we will cover in the next section.