Japanese maples are usually very easy to care for, but can struggle in hot and sunny weather if their soil is not properly treated. These beautiful trees have shallow roots that can dry out quickly in the heat, which makes them very vulnerable to becoming damaged.
The red leaves of Japanese maples are especially sensitive to ultraviolet rays from the sun and can scorch if the soil dries out. However, you do not need to anxiously keep watering your garden, as the experts at Ruhlig Farms & Gardens have shared, there is a simple way to help your Japanese Maples stay hydrated for longer.
They said: “Mulching will help to retain moisture and cool root zones to protect these trees. Apply two to four inches of mulch under your Japanese Maples, extending out to the drip line for complete protection.”
Mulching is a simple garden technique of covering the top layer of soil around a plant with organic matter, which is usually done to help fertilise them.
However, in summer, mulching also helps soil keep cool and retain more moisture so you do not have to water as frequently.
If you mulch your Japanese maple, it will improve the soil health so it holds more moisture and makes it less likely the tree will become stressed and lose its leaves.
Shredded bark, wood chips pine needle sand compost tend to be the best mulches for Japanese maples to keep them cool and moist.
It is much better to mulch Japanese Maples, as the salts in most fertilisers can build up and cause the trees to need more energy and water to stay healthy.
These salts can also burn the sensitive roots of Japanese Maples if the soil dries out, which can harm or even outright kill the tree.
Once you have your mulch all you need to do is spread an even layer around the tree, but be careful to leave space around the tree otherwise the organic material can be smothering.
The expert said: “Be sure to keep the mulch several inches away from the tree’s trunk to avoid fungus problems and crown rot.”
If you keep your Japanese Maples properly mulched as the temperature rises then you will a healthier that is able to grow even more and robust leaves without having to water them all the time.
AloJapan.com