Just remember to be patient, take your time, and a little pruning maintenance can go a long way! Browse our online plant nursery for Japanese Maple options. Growing Japanese Maples In Pots.
Top Ten Japanese Maples Varieties. Types of Japanese Maples. Dwarf Trees Top Ten. Your order has qualified for FREE shipping! Add to cart. How to Prune Japanese Maples. When to Prune Your Japanese Maple. How to Prune Your Japanese Maple. Pruning No-Nos Do not prune young trees unless necessary. Allow your tree to fully develop and grow into itself for 10 to 15 years before you take on any serious pruning. Younger trees often get long, thin, whip-like branches.
Be patient. They do fill out and get lateral branches. If you prune them off you are more likely to get even more of this same branch type.
It will only encourage faster growth and thinner, weaker branches. Never over-prune. Do not remove more than one-quarter of the foliage from any branch, for the same reason.
Do not cut any branches which are more than half the diameter of the main stem. Do not try to restrict the height of your tree. Instead, choose one with a maximum height and spread suitable for your location. Height can rarely be controlled without damaging your tree. For Upright Japanese Maple Trees: 1 Remove dead, diseased and damaged branches Remove any dead or dying branches with discoloured or flaking bark with a clean cut.
Go slowly to prevent inadvertently slicing into an adjacent branch. For Mature Trees only: 3 Separate layers As your tree becomes more established, you may wish to encourage the development of layers to create the stereotypical form of a mature Japanese maple tree.
To create this appearance, remove any branches that stray into the layer above or below. Check your tree over very carefully before commencing layer pruning, including getting under it and looking up, which will help you identify what you may want to prune.
Successful thinning out will leave every space filled with foliage but with fewer branches. For Weeping 'Laceleaf' Japanese Maple Trees: 1 Remove dead, diseased and damaged branches Remove any dead or dying branches with discoloured or flaking bark with a clean cut.
Weeping varieties can have thin, brittle bark - you may wish to use a keyhole saw to make more precise cuts. If these ruin the shape of your tree you may wish to remove them.
Avoid removing any branch that is more than half the diameter of the main stem. For Mature Trees only: 4 Separate layers As your tree becomes more established, you may wish to encourage the development of layers to create the stereotypical form of a mature Japanese maple tree.
Note this may not be possible with dwarf weeping varieties; you may wish to check the eventual height and spread of your tree or contact us for advice if in doubt.
Avoid removing branches if doing so would leave a large hole, eliminate too much of the tree's canopy or leave a large wound. Stand back from your tree to check how the shape and structure is changing every few cuts. A minimalist approach works best - do not cut any branches more than half the diameter of the main stem and avoid removing more than one-quarter of foliage from any branch.
This can be achieved by thinning out many small branches so a layer of twings rises above the main branches like a veil.
Be careful not to overdo it - stripping out or exposing the topmost main branches could cause sunscald and put your tree at risk of decay. To control spread: If you need to control the spread of your Japanese maple, follow long branches back to a side branch and prune them out at that point.
Comments Michele 16 Aug , Thank you so much for this advice. I am gardening for a lovely couple. Your detailed advice, taking the task slowly and methodically has given me the confidence and knowledge to go ahead and get the job done after leaf fall and before the end of December. In this post, we discuss why and when to prune Japanese maples. We also explore some of the nuances of aesthetic pruning that are necessary to properly care for these elegant trees. There are several reasons to prune.
The primary reasons are related to the health of the tree, while aesthetics also play a big part. The best time to trim most ornamental and fruit trees is during the winter months while they are dormant. For Japanese maples, it is recommended to do structural pruning in the winter and wait until late spring, after the leaves come out, for fine pruning.
Summer can also be a good time for removing larger branches and for removing dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Aesthetic Pruning. Know the tree. Spend some time getting to know its structure.
What branches need to be pruned? Which branch is the leader or apex branch? Are there competing or crossing branches? What about the overall health of the tree? What is the desired form of the tree? These questions need to be answered in order for your landscape to look its best. Trimming takes time and it will not look good half done. Rather than making a mistake that threatens the life of your Japanese maple, contact our Portland tree pruning service for ongoing expertise and support.
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