Recognizing frost damage - an overview of common symptoms
When the maple from Asia found its way into European gardens, the tree was already partially hardy. Small, slow-growing varieties have the advantage that they are better equipped for our cool, dry winter climate and the shorter growing season. Nonetheless, frost damage can occur, which can be recognized by these symptoms:
- Young shoots droop limply
- Wilted, dry leaf tips in spite of a sheltered location
- Brown leaves gradually wither
also read
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- Professional transplanting of European maple - this is how it works
- Cutting the maple correctly - this is what you should pay attention to
In the worst case, victims of belated frosts shed all of their leaves. In less severe cases, the outer areas of the maple are bare and the leaves have only survived inside the shrubby crown.
Fixing and preventing frost damage - this is how it works
After two to three years of acclimatization, a maple is well hardy in the bed. Until then, it can suffer frost damage in the harsh winter. In later years, there is still a pronounced sensitivity to frost when the tree has already driven in spring. We have put together tips for limiting damage and effective prevention for you below:
- Cut back frozen shoot tips into healthy wood
- After partial leaf shedding, wait a few weeks to see whether the maple regenerates by itself
- Provide preventive winter protection in the year of planting and the following years
- Cover the root disc at least 5 cm high with leaf soil or brushwood
- Put on a fleece hood in blazing winter sun and freezing frost
A properly cared for maple has sufficient vitality to recover from light frost damage. Therefore, please only use the scissors after a vitality test. To do this, lightly scratch the bark of affected shoots. Green fabric indicates that the frost damage will be repaired on its own. If the twig under the bark is gray and dry, cut it off with sharp, disinfected scissors.
Tips
Smaller cultivated forms of the maple, like 'Orange Dream' or 'Shaina', thrive excellently in the tub. If the location is outside of mild winter regions, you can effectively prevent frost damage by clearing the tree. From November to March, the Asian gem is better off in the frost-free, bright winter quarters.
