People want Japanese maple trees because they have graceful shapes and lovely colored leaves. Even though they can handle some cold, they need extra care in the winter to make it through and do well in the spring. This complete guide tells you everything you need to know to keep your Japanese maple safe during the winter.
Why Winterizing is Crucial
Japanese maples can withstand cold winters while dormant. But harsh cold, heavy snow, winter storms, and sudden changes in temperature can hurt or kill them if they are not properly protected. Maples are also at risk when their leaves come out too early in the late winter, before spring comes. Specialized care during the winter lowers these risks and gets trees ready for strong growth when the weather gets warmer again.
Key Elements of Winter Maple Care
Late Winter Pruning
Prune away dead branches anytime, but limit major pruning to late winter when maples are fully dormant. Major pruning in early winter can lead to 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.
Deep Watering Before Freezing
Make sure your maples get plenty of water before winter. Watering them deeply in late fall restores moisture to the roots before the ground freezes. During dormancy, maple roots stay alive but aren’t doing much, so they need less water.
Insulating Mulch Layer
Put two to three inches of mulch around the base, such as bark, leaves, or wood chips, to protect the roots from changes in temperature. Extend mulch out to the dripline. Frost heaving happens when roots are pushed up from the ground by freezing and thawing. Mulching stops this from happening.
Burlap Wrapping
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. More exposed trees need wrapping every year.
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 occasional watering over winter.
Protect Against 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 and Lift Pots
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 get adequate sunlight to prevent overly deep dormancy. Gradually re-acclimate to sunlight when moving back outside.
Delay Fertilizing
Fertilizing during dormancy can damage roots and spur harmful early growth. Wait until signs of spring emergence to feed. Use an organic, slow-release fertilizer formulated 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 by blocking foraging access.
Care After Leaf-Out
Once warm weather arrives in late winter, special care must be taken:
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Shelter emerging leaves from late frosts and freezes. Cover or bring pots indoors overnight as needed.
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Allow new leaves to gradually acclimate to direct sunlight over 2-3 weeks to prevent leaf burn. Keep partially shaded at first.
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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 and water more frequently for emerging plants.
With proper winter care, your Japanese maples will emerge strong in spring, ready for vigorous growth. Pay close attention to your tree’s specific needs and adjust winter protections accordingly. Consistent care will sustain their beauty for years to come.
Winter Care Tips for Healthy Japanese Maples
Japanese maples are tough trees usually killed by overcare rather than cold. Avoid overwatering during winter dormancy, as wet feet can lead to root rot or diseases like Verticillium wilt. Proper drainage is crucial year-round but especially in winter.
Applying thick organic mulch around the base provides insulation against freeze damage and prevents frost heaving. Staking younger trees and wrapping in burlap protects from heavy snow loads. Gently brush off accumulating snow to reduce branch breakage risk.
Refrain from winter fertilizing to avoid stimulating harmful growth during dormancy. Be patient and wait until signs of spring emergence to feed, usually mid-April or later. Use an organic, slow release fertilizer made specifically for Japanese maples. With light care, dormant maples will reward you come spring.
Protect Potted Maples by Mulching
Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch like straw or wood chips around potted Japanese maples to insulate roots. Mulching maintains soil temperature and prevents rapid fluctuations that stress roots. It also protects against frost heaving. Take care not to leave pots in standing water, as wet roots will rot.
Shelter Container Maples Inside
Overwinter potted Japanese maples inside an unheated garage or basement before the first frost. Pots lack the ground’s insulation, so roots are prone to winter damage. Bringing them in ensures they stay warm and protected from harsh winds that cause dieback. Mulch or bury outside pots in leaves if shelter is unavailable.
Prevent Excess Snow and Ice Buildup
Heavy snow can bend branches, causing breakage. Carefully brush off accumulating snow after a storm. Severe ice buildup also causes snapping from the weight. Spray with an anti-desiccant coating prior to ice storms to provide protection. Remove damaged branches through late winter pruning.
Monitor Closely and Provide Winter Care
Regularly inspect trees for signs of stress like twig dieback or leaf spotting and treat issues early before they worsen. Provide consistent moisture and protect emerging leaves from late frosts. Potted maples need additional care like shelter, insulation, and rotation for sunlight. With diligent monitoring and winter protections, Japanese maples will thrive.
Help Maples Transition Into Spring
As winter ends, cautiously transition Japanese maples into spring. Prune away any dieback and sterilize pots when repotting. Protect new leaves from late frosts overnight. Gradually acclimate emerging foliage to direct sunlight over weeks to avoid leaf burn. Delay heavy pruning or repotting until leaves fully open and growth slows. Careful spring transition nurtures growth.
Winter Pruning of your Japanese Maple
Late winter is the perfect time to do any major pruning on your Japanese maple. Small cuts can be made at any time of the year, but big cuts should be made in late winter, when the tree is dormant, or right before it starts to grow again in the spring. Limit pruning during the early winter months, as open wounds can be more susceptible to diseases and cold damage. If pruning is necessary, focus on removing dead or damaged branches. Save major shaping and thinning for late winter or early spring when the tree is still dormant, minimizing stress on the tree. This also has an added benefit of promoting extra growth during the initial spring flush. Still, remember that you should never cut off more than a third of the tree at a time. When pruning off small branches in the spring or summer months, we like to use what we’ve coined the pinky rule. If the branch is skinnier than your pinky, then you can clip it at any time.
When pruning a Japanese maple it is imperative to use clean, sharp cutters to make precise cuts on your Japanese maple tree. Our favorite pruning tool are these Carbon Steel Concave Cutters. This is the best tool for pruning Japanese maples. Whether youre a bonsai artist or home gardener these cutters will help you make precise cuts close to the branch. I wouldnt touch a Japanese maple with any other kind of clipper.
Planting your Japanese maple in the Winter
My dad always said, “The best time to plant a Japanese maple was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is now.” ” This is 100% true. Lots of people ask when they should plant their tree, and some say they want to wait until spring or fall. What are you waiting for?? The sooner you get your Japanese maple in the ground, the sooner the roots get established and the sooner your tree can start really growing. So, don’t worry about the time of year, just get that tree in the ground. As long as the ground isn’t frozen and you are actually able to dig the hole then you can plant a Japanese maple.
Now that I’ve laid out the blanket rule that you should always want to get your Japanese maple in the ground as soon as possible, let’s dive into a few winter specific things to know when planting your maple in the cold. A huge benefit of planting a Japanese maple in the winter is that it drinks very little water this time of year. As long as we get some rain about every two weeks, the tree should be fine. This is a far cry from the treatment that a Japanese maple needs when planted in the summer. Not only does your tree not need much water in the winter when you first plant it, you also won’t have to water it much all year. When planting a Japanese maple in the winter, you’re giving your tree time to get established and acclimated in your yard. By the time spring and summer role around your tree should be established to the point that the rainwater is keeping it satisfied. Still make sure it’s receiving a thorough watering about every week or two, but that usually is something the rain can handle.
While I believe that these benefits far outweigh the downfalls, there is one concern with planting a Japanese maple in the winter, especially here in the south where we get crazy winter weather fluctuations. As long as a Japanese maple is dormant, it can handle temperatures even as low as zero degrees. However, we often have stretches of warm temperatures in February that cause some of our trees to leaf out in late February or early March. While we’re as excited for an early spring as anyone, there is always at least one freeze or frost that occurs in March or even early April. Japanese maples do not handle freezing temperatures very well when they are leafed out. We suggest protecting any Japanese maple from freezing temperatures after it has leafed out. This can mean bringing smaller, potted trees inside your garage overnight, or covering up your larger, in-ground trees with some sort of sheet that is not too heavy as to break branches. Obviously, protecting your trees once they are in the ground is much more difficult than while in a pot, making this really the only major downfall of planting during the winter.
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
FAQ
Do I need to cover Japanese maple in winter?
5) For at least the first three years, cover Japanese maples with burlap if you get a lot of snow or strong winter winds. Snow falling in the colder climates can both protect and endanger plants. A good snow cover will insulate the soil similar to a mulch.
What to do with potted Japanese maple in winter?
…very harsh winters, you might want to move your potted Japanese Maple to a safe place, like an unheated garage or porch, during the coldest months (Jan. 10, 2024)
How do I make my Japanese maple happy?
For mature plants, the soil should be uniformly moist. In many climates, regular precipitation is enough to keep these plants sufficiently watered. Japanese maples that are already established can handle some drought, but they will need to be watered when it’s very hot and doesn’t rain or after fertilizer is applied.
Can I prune a Japanese maple in winter?
When to Prune Japanese Maple Trees. The best time to trim most ornamental and fruit trees is during the winter months while they are dormant. For Japanese maples, it is recommended to do structural pruning in the winter and wait until late spring, after the leaves come out, for fine pruning.