How Do You Winterize A Potted Japanese Maple Tree?

Overwintering potted plants is always a challenge for gardeners. You need to know a lot of tricks to succeed.

A potted Japanese maple can survive the winter outdoors in zones 7-9 without any problems. In this case, you do not need to do anything about it. This tree can survive down to 5°F(-15°C) when planted in a container.

But if you want your maple to be more comfortable through the winter, stick to the following recommendations.

Tips for successful winterizing of a potted Japanese maple in zones 7-9

1. Avoid fertilizing potted Japanese Maple later than June. This is especially true of slow-release fertilizers. Late feeding can prevent the tree from going into winter dormancy.
2. Move the pot with the tree to a place where there are no frost drafts. This can be behind the house or near a large evergreen tree.
3. Water the maple tree well in late fall before frost begins. Give it a good soaking, but make sure the excess water gets out through the drainage holes.
4. Mulch the surface of the soil in the pot with organic material. For example, it can be pine bark or wood chips. However, do not bury the trunk in the mulch.

In the 5 and 6 USDA hardiness zones, potted Japanese maples need sheltering and other actions to protect them from cold temperatures. You will learn more about this in the following chapters.

Japanese maple in container zone 5

Zone 5 is the northernmost area where you can grow Japanese Maple in a pot. Temperatures can drop to -10°F (-23°C) in this zone, which the maple roots cannot withstand. So you need to be sure to protect it.

The first and the best thing you can do is to move the potted maple to an unheated room. A cold garage meets this requirement well. It can also be some other building that is not heated in winter.

It is completely not important that the garage is dark. The trees are dormant in the winter and do not need sunlight.

But you have to avoid a basement. This is because it might be too warm in the basement, and this will prevent the maple from going into hibernation. In addition, the basement usually has poor ventilation and high humidity, all of which can lead to mildew on the maple.

Move the potted Japanese Maple to the garage when the outside temperature drops to 28°F (-2°C). By this time, the maple will be dormant and will not even feel the change in the environment.

Water the maple throughout the winter. This should be done when the ground is 4 inches dry. In winter, maples need a minimum amount of water.

As spring arrives, slowly accustom the tree to the outdoors. Take it out during the day when it is warm. If it’s freezing at night, bring it back into the garage. Once the temperature is consistently positive, the tree can no longer be hidden.

Japanese maple in container zone 6

Winter is milder in zone 6, but the roots of the potted maple will still be uncomfortable outside. You don’t have to bring it indoors, but you do need to protect it.

The first thing to do is to move the tree to a more wind-protected location. This could be between two buildings or between two large trees. Some low place where there are no wind drafts is also a good choice.

However, make sure that there is no standing water from melted snow. Also do not place the tree too close to the walls of the building to prevent water from the roof from getting into the pot.

The second thing to do is to protect the roots. The best way is to bury the pot in the ground for the winter. The heat from the ground will prevent damage to the roots.

Do not bury the pot too deep. The edge of the pot should be at ground level. Also, do not put soil on the trunk of the maple.

Another way to protect the roots is to put the pot on a flat surface and bury it in organic material, something like a volcano mulching. You can, for example, use compost for this purpose. Like in the first case, you don’t need to cover the tree trunk, just the pot.

You do not have to worry about watering the maple because natural water will be quite enough. Also, avoid fertilizing it for the winter.

Can you bring a Japanese maple indoors for winter?

You can not bring a potted Japanese Maple indoors if we are talking about a heated room. Too high a temperature will prevent the tree from entering a dormant state and it will be severely depleted.

In addition, there is not enough humidity in the house. This can lead to leaf damage or even the death of the tree.

And lastly, while remaining active, the maple needs enough direct sunlight. It is unlikely to achieve such sun exposure in the house.

The only suitable place for overwintering indoors is an unheated room. A garage or some other building with no heating is best. Do not take the maple there until the temperature has dropped below 28°F (-2°C).

Avoid the basement because it might be too warm for overwintering. As a result, the maple may wake up in February but it will be too early to take it outside. This will cause the maple to suffer from a lack of sunlight.

Should I cover my potted Japanese maple in winter?

You don’t have to cover a potted Japanese Maple for the winter. Putting a blanket over the top of the maple won’t do much good because the top part of the tree is quite frost-resistant.

A blanket will only put extra weight on the branches. During heavy snowfall, the branches will break.

All you have to do is move the maple into the garage for the winter if you live in area 5. Or protect the root system if you live in zone 6.

The only time to cover a Japanese maple is in the spring. Late frosts often occur at this time and can damage the young foliage. If spring frosts come, be sure to cover the maple for this time.