Gardening is a great way to relax and enjoy some ‘me’ time, and if you’re looking to transform your garden or even just pick up a new hobby, YouGarden has all the tips and tricks you need.

Japanese Acer trees are a great autumn addition to your garden.

‘Maple’ Acers are renowned for their colour-changing foliage that put on a beautiful performance at this time of year, each and every year.

In sync with the changing seasons, the leaves of these Acers evolve with the weather and their colours deepen as autumn arrives.

The classic red-leaved maple, ‘Atropurpureum’’s deep burgundy-purple leaves turn an intense, fiery shade of red just before they fall.

York Press: How to grow Japanese Acer treesHow to grow Japanese Acer trees (Image: Canva)

How to grow Japanese acres

YouGarden has given its top tips for planting an Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'.

For planting, if your soil is slightly acidic, then you have the perfect conditions to grow Japanese maples. Do not worry if you haven’t, as most can be grown in other soils as long as they are not wet, dry or very alkaline.

If you are growing your tree in a pot, use a 50/50 mix of ericaceous and multipurpose compost if you can, however, this too isn’t entirely necessary.

If planting in the garden, prepare a wide hole and loosen the soil with a fork, incorporating organic matter as needed to improve moisture retention and condition.

Plant your Acer so that the top of the root ball is just slightly below ground level.

Fill the planting hole with soil and heel well in. Water well.

Leaf colour is best in partial shade, although full sun can be tolerated as long as the plant is well watered. However avoid exposed places as leaves can suffer with windburn (scorch), especially if the plant is dry.

For more information on Japanese Acers and to order yours, visit the YouGarden website here.