Avoid over-potting and ‘water-logging’ Japanese maples in winter

Japanese maples can be found in most modern gardens in the UK. Acers can be planted in the ground or in containers. Japanese maple trees come in a range of colours and distinct shapes. The leaves can be lacy or fine in appearance and can be marked with green, purple, cream, yellow or pink.These plants love a cool, dappled shady position in fertile, free-draining soil.They don’t like direct sunlight and tend to thrive when they’re in the shade of taller trees.The winter months can be more challenging for Japanese maples because they dislike cold wind or frost which can scorch their leaves.Strong winds can damage the plant’s slender branches and leaves and can even break off branches.READ MORE: Houseplants that remove mould and condensation from your home Avoid over-potting and ‘water-logging’ Japanese maples in winter or risk ‘death of plants’ (Image: GETTY)After a frost, the maple’s cells will thaw during the day before re-freezing during the night. When the plant re-freezes, the cells can burst and die.With this in mind, Head of Horticulture & Biodiversity at Trentham Gardens Carol Adams has shared her advice for looking after Japanese maples in the winter months.Trentham is a 725-acre estate that has magnificent grounds and gardens with diverse habitats.Carol said Japanese maples planted in containers and pots are ‘really vulnerable to water-logging in the winter’.DON’T MISSExperts share method to grow Japanese maples now [INSIGHT]’Permanently kill weeds’ using three ‘everyday household items’ [UPDATE]’Key area’ to prune Japanese maples for ‘healthier growth’  [ANALYSIS]Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea Gardening planner (Image: EXPRESS)The bark can also crack open when temperatures cool down too much. Usually, the bark splits vertically to where the roots meet the stem.Cold temperatures near the surface of the soil can also kill roots which can then kill the entire tree.Put a thick layer of mulch – around four inches – over the root area of the tree to protect it from winter damage.The plants can be wrapped in fleece or burlap to help protect them from heavy snowfall and cold winds.