Acer October Glory is best suited in a position that gets

• Partial shade
• Full sun

Acer October Glory is

• Frost Tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Deciduous

Acer October Glory will thrive in soil that is

• Clay
• Sandy
• Free draining
• Nutrient rich

Plant Acer 'October Glory' in full sun for the strongest growth and best autumn colour.

Choose your position based on its mature size rather than the size of the tree sitting in front of you today.

Allow:

Plenty of space for the mature canopy
Good clearance from buildings
Clearance from overhead powerlines
Room for the root system to develop
Good airflow around the tree

It's a long-term feature tree, so getting the position right from the beginning is considerably easier than moving it later.

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

This is particularly important during hot, dry Canterbury summers.

Deep watering encourages roots to move further into the surrounding soil rather than remaining concentrated near the surface.

Once established, October Glory becomes more tolerant of short dry periods, but it will perform best with additional water during prolonged drought.

Consistent soil moisture also helps maintain healthy foliage through summer.

Apply organic mulch around the root zone after planting.

Mulching helps:

Retain soil moisture
Reduce competition from grass and weeds
Moderate soil temperatures
Improve the soil over time

Keep mulch slightly away from the trunk.

For trees planted in lawns, maintaining a grass-free mulched area around young trees can make establishment considerably easier.

Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring if required, particularly while young trees are establishing.

Compost or other well-rotted organic matter can also be added around the root zone.

Avoid excessive nitrogen feeding. Strong, balanced growth is more useful than producing masses of soft growth.

Acer 'October Glory' requires relatively little pruning once its framework has been established.

While young, prune to:

Maintain a strong central leader
Remove competing leaders if necessary
Remove crossing or rubbing branches
Remove dead or damaged growth
Develop well-spaced structural branches

Good formative pruning while the tree is young can prevent much larger structural problems later.

Once mature, pruning should generally be limited to maintenance and the removal of damaged wood.

Acer 'October Glory' is highly frost hardy, making it an excellent option for cooler New Zealand gardens.

After its autumn display, the foliage drops and the tree enters winter dormancy.

Established trees require very little special winter care, although newly planted trees will benefit from mulch around the root zone.

October Glory develops into a sturdy landscape tree, although newly planted specimens should be protected from severe exposure while their root systems establish.

Stake young trees where necessary, particularly in exposed positions.

If staking:

Allow some movement in the trunk.
Check ties regularly.
Loosen ties as the trunk expands.
Remove stakes once the tree is securely established.

In particularly exposed Canterbury locations, some shelter from persistent nor'west winds will help young trees establish more quickly.