People are always curious what to do with their plants in the cold. Luckily, Japanese maples are some of the most cold hardy trees there are. Still, there are a few things you should know about taking care of your Japanese maple in the winter. This article will tell you everything you need to know about taking care of your Japanese maple during the winter, from how to water it to how to keep it safe from severe weather and other things that can happen in the cold.
Let’s start by talking about what winter is rather than what it is not. Winter is actually an opportunity for the Japanese maple lover. You can do a lot of different things with your Japanese maple tree during the winter, when it sleeps. If you have an older specimen, it’s the best time to prune your tree. Now is the best time to dig up and move a tree if you want to. Even if your trees are in pots, winter is the best time to transplant them into bigger pots. Winter is full of opportunity when it comes to your Japanese maple.
Japanese maples are stunning ornamental trees known for their graceful form and beautiful colored foliage. While largely cold hardy, they do require some special care over the winter months to ensure they survive harsh conditions and thrive into spring. Follow this comprehensive guide to properly care for your Japanese maples throughout the dormant winter season.
Why Winter Care is Crucial
While Japanese maples can survive cold winters being dormant extreme freezing heavy snow, winter storms, and rapid temperature swings can damage or kill them if unprotected. Plus, maples are vulnerable when leaves emerge too early before spring. Specialized winter care reduces risks and sets trees up for vigorous growth when warm weather returns.
Key Elements of Winter Maple Care
Hold Off on Major Pruning
Prune away dead branches anytime, but limit major pruning to late winter when maples are dormant. Major pruning in early winter risks open wounds prone to disease and cold damage. Late winter pruning encourages new growth once dormancy ends. Never remove over 1/3 of branches at once.
Water Deeply Before Freezing
Ensure maples are well watered going into winter. Deep watering in late fall replenishes moisture in the entire root zone before the ground freezes. Maple roots remain alive but largely inactive during dormancy, so less water is needed.
Apply Insulating Mulch
Put 2-3 inches of mulch like bark, leaves, or wood chips around the base to insulate roots from temperature swings. Extend mulch out to the dripline Mulching also prevents frost heaving, where alternating freezing and thawing pushes roots up from the soil
Wrap Burlap Around Trunk
In windy areas or where heavy snows occur, wrap burlap around the trunk and secure with rope or tape. This prevents snow accumulation from breaking branches. Wrap carefully to avoid damage. Wrap every year for more exposed trees.
Monitor Soil Moisture
Check soil moisture monthly. Water if the top few inches become completely dry. Avoid overwatering, as wet soils lead to root rot in cold weather. Potted maples need less water but still occasional moisture over winter.
Protect From Early Warm Spells
If maples leaf out early after warm spells, protect from inevitable late freezes. Cover trees or move small pots indoors temporarily. Even dormant maples can’t withstand hard freezes below 15°F.
Insulate Pots & Lift Off Ground
Wrap potted maples with burlap or bubble wrap, leaving the top exposed. Place pots on feet or bricks to prevent freezing from direct ground contact. These steps maintain stable root zone temperatures.
Shelter in Unheated Areas
In extreme cold, temporarily move pots to unheated garages or porches to avoid root damage. Ensure trees receive adequate sunlight to prevent extreme dormancy. Gradually acclimate to sunlight when moving back outside.
Delay Fertilizing Until Spring
Fertilizing during dormancy can damage roots and push harmful growth too early. Wait until signs of spring emergence to feed. Use an organic, slow-release formula formulated specifically for Japanese maples.
Guard Against Animal Damage
Mice, rabbits, and deer will nibble maple bark in winter. Wrap trunks with wire mesh to deter animals. Prune away low branches mice can reach. Deep snow also protects from foraging by blocking access.
Caring for Japanese Maples After Leaf-Out
Once warm temperatures arrive in late winter, Japanese maples will break dormancy and begin leafing out. Special care must be taken to avoid damage:
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Shelter emerging leaves from late frosts and freezes. Cover or bring pots indoors overnight as needed.
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Let new leaves gradually adjust to direct sunlight over 2-3 weeks. Keep partially shaded at first to prevent leaf burn.
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Hold off on repotting or heavy pruning until leaves fully emerge and new growth slows.
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Begin fertilizing 1-2 months after leaves open when roots become active again.
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Monitor soil moisture closely. Emerging plants require more frequent watering.
With proper overwintering care, your Japanese maples will come through the winter strong and ready for vigorous spring growth. Pay close attention to your tree’s specific needs and adjust winter protections accordingly. Consistent care will keep this beauty gracing your landscape for years to come.
Winter Care Tips for Healthy Japanese Maples
You probably started reading this article because you want to know how to keep your Japanese maple healthy during the winter. Luckily, there isn’t a whole lot that you need to do to keep your tree happy and healthy. Japanese maples are tough trees that are usually killed by kindness more than anything else. My first tip is not to overwater your tree in the winter. As I’ve already said, Japanese maples don’t need to drink much water during their dormant period because they aren’t actively growing. Because of this and the fact that water evaporates more slowly in the winter, water stays in the soil for a much longer time. This is one of the worst things you can do for your Japanese maple because it will make its feet wet. Roots that stay wet can rot or get diseases like Verticillum wilt, Root rot, or Pseudomonas syringae. This is why proper drainage is so important for your Japanese maple year-round but especially in the winter.
Proper insulation around the base of the tree is a key element in winter care for Japanese Maples. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, to a depth of 2-3 inches. Mulching helps regulate soil temperature, preventing extreme fluctuations that can stress the trees roots. Besides that, it protects against frost heaving, which can hurt the roots by lifting them out of the ground.
Heavy snow on Japanese Maples can bend or break branches, though this doesn’t happen very often here in Georgia. If your Japanese maples get too much snow, use a broom or soft brush to gently brush the snow off the branches, working your way up from the bottom. This precautionary measure prevents the accumulation of excessive weight, reducing the risk of structural damage.
Many pests go to sleep during the winter, but mice, rabbits, and deer may still be a threat to your Japanese Maples. For these animals not to chew on the tree’s bark in the winter, put up protective barriers like wire mesh around the base of the tree.
Another thing to keep in mind when caring for your Japanese maple over the winter is fertilizer. You want to refrain from any fertilizing in the winter. Wait until spring before fertilizing your Japanese maples. Japanese maples need the winter and their dormancy period, and that shouldn’t be rushed. Before fertilizing, we usually wait until early to mid-April. This is because we want to be sure that the trees are no longer dormant. Fertilizing can be pushed back even later in climates where spring arrives later. When it is time to fertilize we use Happy Frog Japanese Maple Fertilizer. Happy Frog is an organic, slow release fertilizer specifically formulated for Japanese maples. Apply Happy Frog in the spring for a happy and healthy Japanese maple all year long. Patience is absolutely a virtue when it comes to Japanese maples. Be patient with your dormant maples and they will likely reward you in the spring.
Mulch your Potted Japanese Maple for Root Protection
Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the potted Japanese Maple to insulate the roots. Use materials like straw or wood chips to provide an additional barrier against extreme cold. Mulching helps maintain soil temperature and prevents rapid temperature fluctuations that can stress the roots.
Winter care of your container grown Japanese maple tree
How do you keep Japanese maple trees from freezing?
Make the mulch ring with dead leaves, bark, wood chips or compost. This keeps freeze damage to a minimum. 5) Wrap Japanese maples with burlap (if you experience heavy snows or prevailing winter winds) for at least the first three years. Snow falling in the colder climates can both protect and endanger plants.
How do you care for a Japanese maple tree?
Here are some essential care tips for growing and maintaining Japanese maple trees: 1.**Planting:** – Choose a suitable location: Japanese maples prefer partial shade.Plant them where they receive
Should I cover a Japanese maple in the winter?
All you have to do is move the maple into the garage for the winter if you live in area 5. Or protect the root system if you live in zone 6. The only time to cover a Japanese maple is in the spring. Late frosts often occur at this time and can damage the young foliage.
Can You overwinter a potted Japanese maple tree?
If you have a potted Japanese maple, overwintering it outside can be challenging. One secret to protecting your potted tree is to insulate the pot by wrapping it in bubble wrap or burlap. This will help prevent roots from freezing and becoming damaged by the cold.