I checked this Japanese Maple today for black fly. None to be found but everyone else’s maples seem to have them. I had done a major repot on this tree back in the Winter. It was very weak last year and the branch structure was very poor due to a few bits dying back. As you can see it’s responded well.

I moved a few of the little accent pots I had sitting on the soil surface, right in at the corners and this is what I found.

It has responded that well to the repotting that it has produced new roots right out into each corner and was even trying to put roots into the accent pot! It is just loving that open mix of SC Pink and grit. Not fine stuff either as you can see.