Japanese maples will only survive the winter if you do 1 important task in November

Japanese acers - also known as Japanese maples - are a beautiful plant to brighten up your garden, but they do require some TLC to keep them protected during winter. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish shared some help tips for acer owners that will protect them throughout the season.

Ish urged gardeners not to fret over acers losing their leaves, as it's completely normal. However, the weather associated with winter could pose some problems and leave the plant damaged. He urged green thumbs to carry out a couple of tasks over the winter season to make sure they are protected and will come back into bloom next year.

Acers aren't a fan of the cold weather and the gusts of wind that could come along with it. Ish explained that in some cases, the chilly wind can be dangerous to the plant's survival.

Extreme cold weather can cause the plant's leaves to become scorched. Their vibrant red colour will begin to turn brown, in turn losing its colour. The leaves may also curl, shrivel, and become crispy, which is what Ish warned about.

If your acers are potted, there is a way you can protect it, either by using mulch or bubble wrap. Mulch can be added to the top layer of soil.

Bubble wrap can be used by wrapping it around the outside of the pot to help protect the plant's root from the cold emitted from the pot itself.

One task that should be on your radar during the winter is pruning. This will help the leaves on the plant stay strong, as the cold weather can damage the leaves.

In some cases, leaf scorch can lead to premature leaf drop and even dieback of small branches. The Royal Horticultural Society noted 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.

Ish recommended pruning acers in late January. He said: "The reason you want to do that is because it is dormant, so you can be quite rough with how you cut this.

"You want to get rid of any crossing over stems and allow that to thicken out with brand new foliage next year. It really is super simple and won't do any damage."