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.

You can cover young or particularly delicate Acers in fleece or burlap if a spring frost is forecast when leaves have already started to form. Affected plants start to wilt, sometimes just one section, with lower leaves becoming discoloured to yellow and brown. They are very hardy trees but they will do best in a sheltered aspect. They don’t do well in very strong winds. For red and purple (variegated) varieties a position out of full sun will prevent their foliage from scorching. There are two main reasons why acers are so suitable for gardeners with restricted space. Firstly, and most importantly, as we mentioned above most acers or Japanese maples will only grow to around six feet. Acer palmatum dissectum 'Garnet' - a beautiful eye-catching mound-forming deciduous shrub with red-purple foliage turning fiery red in autumn. 'Garnet' has arching shoots, and bears purple flowers in spring and red fruits in summer. It is a slow growing variety, making it a good choice for small gardens or large containers. Leaf colour is best in partial shade, but it can tolerate full sun, however, leaf scorch may occur.

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Acer is the latin name for the genus, which comprises approximately 130 species and over 700 cultivars. As Acers often have attractive autumn foliage colour, many countries have leaf-watching traditions. The Japanese custom of watching Acer leaves change colour is called momijigari. The same tradition is called Danpung-Nori in Korea. Japanese maples don't normally require staking, but if you're growing a cascading form and want a taller tree it's possible to stake a few branches upright, keeping them staked until they are firm and support themselves. This will create an impressive, eye-catching, multi-tiered tree. The leaves are quite delicate and a harsh wind can easily damage the stems and leaf tissue as they get whipped about. Overwatering can cause this problem also, but a well draining soil will help to move the water away from the roots.

Apart from being slow growing and long lived small acers have even more going for them. They are of course outstandingly attractive trees. The rich colours and forms of their foliage gives a boost to any planting scheme. 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. This is nothing to worry about, and there should be an even more colourful display through autumn before the leaves do fall. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualitiesIn smaller trees that are more heavily infected, it is best just to remove the tree and either burn it or dispose of it safely. Some growers prefer to shape their trees artistically or to thin out interior branches to better expose the graceful main branches. Leave the branches you want to have as major limbs but space them out so the tree looks more open and sparse. Looking at pictures of mature trees of your variety may help as a guide. Plant in a loam-based or ericaceous compost with a high portion of organic matter and good drainage. Japanese Acers require very little pruning, allowing your tree to grow naturally will be the best way to produce a graceful shaped specimen. You may however wish to prune badly positioned or crossing shoots to encourage a better form, in this case pruning is best done when the tree is fully dormant usually from November to February, pruning outside of this window may result in a weakened tree. 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.

The vibrant colours and distinctive lobed shape of their leaves make Maple trees a great addition to any garden or planting scheme. They can be trees or shrubs and come in a variety of shapes including upright, spreading, mound forming and round. The smaller varieties of Japanese Maple are ideal for any sized garden, with many being suitable for growing in a pot. For those with larger gardens, Norway and Red Maples create a stunning feature. Maple trees are all deciduous but if you want winter interest, choose Coral Bark or Snake Bark Maples for their colourful or patterned bark. Acer palmatum dissectum 'Baldsmith' - a handsome acer with a mounded form, with lacy leaves which emerge bright orange/red and develop into shades of green, pink and orange through the summer months. The combination of old and new leaves adorning the branches throughout summer makes for a beautiful rainbow of colour, adding spectacular interest to any garden. The plant you receive from us will be around two feet tall and will growing in a large 5 litre pot.

Are acer trees easy to grow?

Acer palmatum 'Butterfly' - an upright shrub bearing 5-7 lobed leaves irregulary margined with creamy-white leaves that can sometimes be tinged pink. Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo' - a beautiful mottled variegated deciduous foliage of white and green gives this Acer an appearance of light and fluffy and therefore is known as the ‘Floating Cloud’ maple. It is an ideal Acer to use in a tranquil setting or sensory garden. 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. Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' - an upright palmatum producing think bunched-up curled leaves giving the acer a unique 'Lions Head' appearance. This is especially important if the Acer is in a pot, or in a location that receives minimal natural rainfall.

With this beautiful acer you'll see vibrant shades of red foliage right through until autumn. This tough little tree will grow in small gardens or pots and will only ever grow to a height of around two metres. If it becomes too large this plant is ideal for pruning to keep it smaller. 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. 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. 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.Signs of this can be the plant looking too large for the container as well as devitalised and straggly. If your soil is heavy and prone to waterlogging, work in some grit, sand or stones to increase drainage. Acer palmatum dissectum 'Crimson Princess' - a deciduous Acer has an upright weeping habit, creating a mushroom like display. Finely cut, fabulous deep purple-red leaves emerge from red buds turning bronze in the summer, followed by brilliant crimson-scarlet in autumn. They do require monitoring however as eventually their roots will become too large and a bigger pot will be necessary. 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.