Japanese maples have a soulful elegance that's sure to elevate the look of any garden. Proper pruning can help enhance their delicate branch patterns and will bring out the best that these plants have to offer. The gardening and landscape design experts at Ohio's Lakeview Garden Center & Landscaping in Fairfield say that winter is an excellent time to prune Japanese maples, and they offer these two benefits:

• Winter Pruning Makes It Easier To Optimize Branch Structure: Though Japanese maples may be efficiently pruned during winter or summer gardening, the advantage to pruning during the winter is that, with the leaves out of the way, it's much easier for you to see the plant's branch structure. Having a clear view of this will make it easier for you make the snips and cuts necessary to enhance the look of the plant's branches.

• Winter Pruning Makes Sunscald Less Likely: Sunscald occurs when the removal of foliage exposes the Japanese maple's previously shaded bark to the light. It can cause cracked or sunken bark and can weaken the tree, making it more vulnerable to wood-boring insects. To prevent sunscald, it's best to avoid pruning when the temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which makes winter pruning a preferable choice.

Offering a wide selection of plants for gardening enthusiasts that includes conifers, perennials, and Japanese maples, Lakeview Garden Center & Landscaping is Fairfield, OH's leading choice for those seeking full-service landscape design. The company's landscaping team has the insight to help you improve your gardening efforts and can assist in the installation of high-end features such as brick patios and water gardens. For top-notch customer service and the ultimate in variety, give Lakeview Garden Center & Landscaping a call at (513) 829-6624, or learn more by visiting the company online.