Japanese maples will have begun to drop their beautiful leaves in late November and be looking a little bare, so it is important to take the time now to protect them from the cold. Gardeners can become a little careless when watering plants at this time of year since we tend to get quite a lot of rain, and most assume it does not need to be done.
However, November can bring about strong winds which can really dehydrate a Japanese maple and stop it getting enough water before it goes dormant. This can lead to a Japanese maple to dry out over the winter which can damage the roots, make the tree significantly weaker and cause it to struggle to grow any leaves next year. Luckily, the specialists at Plant Addicts have revealed that keeping Japanese maples properly watered is easy as you just need to check the soil in the morning
One expert explained: “The best time of the day to water Japanese maples is during the morning, which allows plenty of time for the roots to soak up the water.
“If watering during the evening, try not to get the leaves wet, as the slower evaporation time at evening and night can facilitate the spread of diseases.”
November is when gardens are more likely to suffer from disease as fungal spores tend to thrive and multiply in damp weather.
If you water your garden at night in late autumn then there is no sun to dry plants off so they will sit in stagnant water which makes it more likely they will get infected.
Taking the time to check if Japanese maples need watered in the morning gives the water more time to dry, especially now when we are not getting a lot of sunlight.
How to check if a Japanese maple tree needs to be watered
It is not advised to water Japanese maples on schedule as you just risk overwatering them, which can lead to root rot, mould, pests as well as fungal diseases.
Instead, take the time to insert a finger around the base of the soil, and if you cannot feel any moisture then the tree needs to be watered.
The expert added: “To be sure, check to see if the soil is dry or cracked. If the soil feels dry, it is a good time to water.”
You only need to water a Japanese maple once a week in November since it is quite rainy, but you need to be check the soil every two to three days to ensure the ground is hydrated.
Japanese maples need enough water to survive over winter so taking the time to check on it now is a simple way to ensure it stays healthy over winter so you can enjoy its beautiful leaves again next year.
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