A gardening expert has urged gardeners to take care of their plants during the latest heatwave, especially any Japanese maple owners. Garden designer and TikTok creator Ish shared his guide for protecting the plant – also known as an acer – when the heat and sunlight are out in force.
In a recent video, Ish warned when the plant’s leaves are exposed to too much heat and sunlight, they could lose their vibrant red colour, but also crisp up and fall off. In severe cases, leaf scorch can lead to premature leaf drop and even dieback of small branches. When this happens, the leaves won’t grow back until next year.
Ish said: “Now there are three main rules when it comes to taking care of an acer: keep it somewhere partially shaded, give it a good free-draining soil that retains a little bit of moisture, and don’t let it near anywhere windy, that could really finish it off.
“But the main enemy for an acer, especially in summer, is that heat and the sunlight.”
When Japanese maples are exposed to too much heat and sunlight, their wonderful red leaves will crisp up and shrivel. When the leaves crisp up, they will eventually drop and they won’t grow back until the next year.
The first thing you need to do to protect the plant is to make sure it retains as much moisture as possible. Make sure you give it a generous amount of water in the early morning or the evening.
To help keep in the moisture, Ish recommended covering the soil with a light layer of white stones to reflect the sunlight. As a result, the plant and soil will stay cool as the stones will stop the water from evaporating.
Ish explained that you can also use mulch or bark to act as a protective barrier. You can also avoid direct heat and sunlight by covering the plant with a frost fleece or shade membrane.
These will let a little bit of light through but not enough to scorch the leaves. If your acer is planted in a pot and can be moved, it’s best to move it into a shaded area of the garden.
Ish continued: “Heatwaves are the biggest cause of loss of leaves on your acers this time of year, so by keeping it well-hydrated, and protecting it from that direct sunlight and the direct heat, your acer will absolutely thrive.
“And you’ll get the leaves all the way through till winter, but occasionally, you will get some crisp up a little earlier and they’ll start to die off. Don’t be afraid, keep watering it and treating it as normal, and those leaves will come back next year. It seems scary but I promise you they’ll come back.”
The Royal Horticultural Society explained Japanese maples enjoy being placed in a cool, lightly shaded position in fertile, free-draining soil, out of direct sun in summer.
The plant thrives under the shelter of taller deciduous trees. It also pointed out that extra care should be taken during late winter and early spring as the seasons’ cold winds – and potential frost – as these can scorch the leaves.
This means you should try and keep wind exposure to a minimum, as the wind will dry the leaves out quickly, regardless of the temperature. Placing them near a fence or a bigger plant will allow some extra protection from gusts of wind.