Japanese maples need protecting from fluctuating temperatures – and given the change of mercury in recent days this advice is especially important to follow
Japanese maples are greatly admired for their deep fiery red plumage and sharp leaves. They’ve fast become popular in the UK as an ornamental plant – which means British gardeners should take care to follow this rule if they want their maple to flourish in spring.
Although they originate in Japan, Japanese maples are well suited to the British climate. They enjoy mild daytime weather and partial shade, which means you should only plant most variants in areas where they receive partial sunlight. The one problem they face is that they can be quite prone to damage in spring. This is because they leaf out at the first sign of warmer weather – which can be troublesome given the UK’s inconsistent temperature at this time of year.
Due to Britain’s location as an island, it is subject to converging air masses, ocean currents and jet streams. These all greatly affect the weather and lead to what is known as a ‘false spring’. A false spring typically occurs in late winter or early spring and usually involves a brief period of warm weather, followed by a sudden drop in temperature. This can cause many different types of plants to emerge prematurely from dormancy.
So, in order to keep your maple as healthy as possible this time of year, the plant experts at Wayside Gardens recommend covering your tree during any cold snaps. This will help negate the change in temperature and ensure they blossom properly in summer.
Wayside Gardens advise on their website : “Spring is the season when your Japanese Maple is most prone to damage. It leafs out early—the first hint of warm weather will cause it to break dormancy.”
They continue: “In many climates, there are several frosts in store after that initial warm period, and these can be dangerous, especially to young trees. Keep the tree covered when the forecast calls for frost.” Another tip to keep them healthy in the spring is to make sure they are well fed. This involves packing soil around the tree during spring and the early summer time.
Packing soil around the tree also has the added benefit of helping it retain moisture. Japanese maples are plants which need adequate water in order to thrive. Wayside Gardens added: “Before planting, work as much compost as you like into the soil around the tree, and keep adding it during spring and early summer. Composted matter not only adds valuable nutrients to the soil, it tends to retain moisture, which Japanese Maple love.
