Japanese acers, also known as Japanese maples, are a stunning addition to any garden, but they do need a bit of extra care to keep them safe during the winter months.
You can wrap the plant pots with bubble wrap to help shield the roots from the cold winds(Image: Getty)
Japanese acers, also known as Japanese maples, are a beautiful addition to any garden, but they require some extra attention to keep them safe during the winter months.
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish has offered some useful advice for acer owners to help them protect their plants throughout the season, according to the Express. Ish reassured gardeners not to fret if their acers begin to lose leaves, as it’s entirely normal. However, he did caution that harsh winter weather could potentially damage the plant.
He urged those with a green thumb to perform a few tasks during the winter season to ensure their acers are protected and ready to flourish next year.
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Acers aren’t particularly fond of the cold weather and the potential strong winds that can come with it. Ish noted that in some cases, the freezing wind can pose a serious risk to the plant’s survival, reports the Mirror.
Japanese acers are a beautiful plant to add to your garden, but they do require some TLC to keep them protected during the winter(Image: Thananat via Getty Images)
Extreme cold weather can cause the plant’s leaves to become scorched. Their vibrant red color will start to turn brown, consequently losing its color.
The leaves might also curl up, shrivel, and become crispy, which is something Ish warned about.
If your acers are in pots, there’s a technique you can use to protect them, either by using mulch or bubble wrap. Mulch can be sprinkled on the top layer of soil.
Bubble wrap can be used by wrapping it around the outside of the pot to help shield the plant’s root from the cold emanating from the pot itself.
Pruning is a task that requires attention during the winter months to keep plant leaves healthy and robust, as cold weather can inflict harm.
Leaf scorch can sometimes lead to premature leaf drop and even the dieback of smaller branches in certain cases.
Cold winds and frost warning
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The Royal Horticultural Society emphasized that special care should be taken during late winter and early spring when cold winds – and potential frost – can scorch the foliage.
Ish recommended pruning acers in late January. He explained: “The reason you want to do that is because it is dormant, so you can be quite rough with how you cut this.
“You want to get rid of any crossing over stems and allow that to thicken out with brand new foliage next year. It really is super simple and won’t do any damage.”
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AloJapan.com