You 'should' get away with it provided there is some rain but can't make any promises.

Is it too late to add some water retaining crystals to the pots? I've never bothered with them (always forget to buy them) but there are people who use them. I don't know how effective they would be if you made some deep dibber holes in the compost and poured in pre-soaked crystals.
Not a perfect solution maybe but every little helps.

Or do you know anybody who would look after the pot if its not too big to move to their garden?

Hi, I think the chances of not getting any rain for 5 weeks in north yorkshire, are pretty slim, to say the least, I think the last time that happened was about 1984, so I think you would be safe to do as you suggest, Derek.

Thanks for replies. Have taken the chance that there will be rain at some stage. Also have daughter who will make an hour round trip at weekends if it hasn't rained through the week. So fingers crossed.

I put my Tomatoes in the bath with 2" of water one year.
They loved it.

Don't think an acer would appreciate sitting in a bath of water for five weeks Diane...

Two of mine look as though they are dead from the frost
MG. I have cut them down to half size, giving them the benefit of the doubt for a while. The others are all in leaf now and fine.
They are a strange plant to understand when you treat them equally.

Were the frost damaged ones somewhere that the early morning sun could get to the frosted leaves Diane?

Diane I did that with some tomatoes one year and when we got home they had grown out of all proportion - the bathroom was like a jungle...