Autumn is the best time to own a Japanese maple as their leaves will start to turn a red, but gardeners need to protect them properly if you want to see their stunning foliage. Japanese maples have shallow roots that are very vulnerable to freezing temperatures, and if left alone they can become damaged once the weather gets colder and windier.
Damaged roots will cause the tree not to grow properly which can lead to the leaves falling off, the branches becoming stunted and can even result in the whole plant dying. However, one gardening expert from Build A Japanese Garden says that keeping Japanese maples safe is very simple, as you simply need to place bark around the soil.
They said: “Mulch your Acer with shredded bark roughly six centimetres deep. This will help prevent water evaporating from the soil around the roots.
“During the winter mulch also helps protect the roots from the cold. Leave a slight gap between the mulch and trunk to help air circulation.”
Mulching is the simple gardening practice of covering the soil around a plant with material, and in autumn using mulch acts as insulation to protect roots from cold damage.
It also helps keep more water in the soil as the windy days in autumn tend to dry it out, and also will smoother any weeds so they will not spread around your Japanese maple.
Using mulch is a natural way to protect Japanese maples from the changing temperatures at this time of year, so you will continue to have a healthy growing tree with beautiful foliage.
How to mulch a Japanese maple
Shredded bark is of one of the best mulches for Japanese maples as it retains a lot of moisture and break down over time, which will add a lot of nutrients to the soil.
Clean up the area around the tree so there are no fallen leaves or weeds, then give the ground a good watering if the soil is dry.
Spread the shredded mulch evenly in a thin layer around six centimetres deep around the tree.
Make sure there is a gap around the trunk as water can stagnate in this area, which can lead to rot or fungal growth. Also take care that the mulch is not piled up as this can prevent light and water reaching the roots.
Mulching is simple, but it will help prevent your Japanese maple from suffering cold damage or drying out so you can enjoy its brilliant red leaves throughout autumn.