February is a good time to focus on Japanese maples, but there is a warning for gardeners who are looking to prune the tree in their garden this month. Here’s everything you need to know
February marks a prime time to tend to Japanese maples in the garden, casting an enchanting spell with their delicate branches and striking foliage.
While the rest of the garden may still be in winter’s embrace, these trees require timely attention to maintain their splendour. Key to tree care, particularly for the young and newly planted, is weed management – ensuring that the base around each tree is free from unwanted plant competition so it can properly absorb water and nutrients for root growth.
Pruning too holds value in preserving a Japanese maple’s health, form, and beauty, while also promoting new growth and improving airflow to stave off disease.
The Royal Horticultural Society recommends trimming Japanese acers during their “fully dormant” phase in the late autumn or winter, focusing on removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches rather than routine cuts.
Ned Cromack, arborist and founder of The Bath Tree Company, warns that delaying this task could be harmful, as he explained to Woman and Home: “Any other time of year will cause the sap to bleed, which makes the healing process more difficult and can make the trees more susceptible to disease. This means that February is your last chance to tidy yours up if it needs it.”
Ned offers some simple guidance for pruning your Acers, pointing out that the first step is to identify any leggy growth that has overstretched its welcome in the allocated space. He suggests snipping away any twigs that look oversized compared to the rest of the canopy, advising: “Always aim to take as little off as possible to lessen the stress on the tree – you can always remove more the following year.”
To safely prune Japanese acers during February, Ned recommends avoiding cutting into live tissues and concentrating on removing grey dead twigs over winter without cutting the live bark. Finally, he warns gardeners against pruning when temperatures are below freezing to prevent frost damage, reports the Express.
