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Priming your plants for a bountiful spring and summer needn't be a difficult task, and with only a handful of weeks until the changing of the season, late winter is the best time to prepare your garden for a gorgeous display. Gardening expert Ish encouraged fellow gardeners to tend to plants - particularly Japanese acers - in February, as late winter is the perfect time to get the best out of them.

Japanese acers can display a wonderful set of foliage, and to encourage a healthier and more vibrant growth during the spring, there's a few steps gardeners should be doing. When it comes to pruning, Ish highlighted three key areas of concern that should be tackled now before spring arrives. Ish said: "Pruning your acer for the best foliage this year is incredibly simple, and in February is a really good time to do it. There are three things you need to look out for and it's as easy as anything."

The first thing you want to look out for when pruning acers are any dead stems. To help identify stems and branches that are dead, look out for wood that looks greyer, in comparison to the dark reddish brown the acers should usually be.

Sometimes if dead stems are too weak, you may be able to flick them off with your finger. These dead bits can be cut as close to the base of the stem as possible.

By cutting these stems back to the base, you avoid the risk of developing any infections in your plants, and you won't waste energy going to those dead parts of the plant.

Next, you want to find any branches that are overlapping or look like they will overlap as they grow. It's important to focus on making sure the plant isn't crowded by getting rid of any of these "overlapping" branches.

Keep an eye out for any branches that are rubbing together or getting too close, and cut those back. If the branches do rub together, they can shed their bark and run the risk of developing infections, which can be encouraged by the moist air. Trim the branches back just above the next node on the stem and cut away.

The third thing you should be on the lookout for is any diseased parts of the acer. Identifying diseased acers involves sudden leaf browning, curling, or shriveling as well as wilting branches, especially at the base.

Other signs include, black or dying twigs, and sticky, black mould. These affected areas can be easily cut away.

Ish said: "And as a result, your foliage will absolutely thrive."

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. Jacksons Nurseries also shared some advice about what not to do when pruning acers.

Jacksons Nurseries explained: "If you're impatient and chop them off you'll only make the problem worse as shortening of pruning away whippy branches only stimulates more of the same. As branches mature they'll widen, forming the robust architectural framework you're looking for."

The experts also advised to leave acers unpruned for as long as possible, and only remove the dead, damaged, badly-placed or crossing branches when doing so.