When to Prune Japanese Maple Trees and How to Do It Right

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In case you’ve ever questioned when to prune Japanese maple timber this text ought to show very useful. Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are among the many loveliest small timber you may add to your panorama, however individuals are typically confused about their care, particularly on the subject of pruning. There are such a lot of completely different kinds and cultivars, every yet another lovely than the following, however sadly, you may destroy their lovely form and foliage by pruning incorrectly. The excellent news is that by understanding how and when to prune Japanese maple timber, you’ll preserve their well being and kind. Learn on to be taught extra about Japanese maple pruning and the way to do it proper.

Tips for growing Japanese maples — Japanese maples are actual show-stoppers within the backyard. The putting mounding development behavior of this purple cutleaf Japanese maple is its pure kind.

Traits of Japanese maples

First, let’s start with a short overview of what makes Japanese maples so particular and why pruning them incorrectly can negatively influence these particular options.

With a sleek trunk, easy bark, and sharply lobed leaves, the cover of those small timber spreads into a particular form. Some Japanese maple varieties, similar to ‘Bloodgood’, are extra upright with a spreading cover. They develop as much as 15-20 toes in peak. Whereas others, similar to the numerous cutleaf or laceleaf cultivars (Acer palmatum var. dissectum), are usually smaller in stature and generally have a weeping or mounding kind. There are dozens, if not tons of, of cultivars of laceleaf Japanese maples. They’ll have leaves which are purple, burgundy, pink, inexperienced, chartreuse, or any variety of mixtures and variegations thereof. Many have leaf colours that change all through the seasons.

The excellent news is that to correctly prune a Japanese maple, you don’t should know what selection you could have. It doesn’t matter what form of Japanese maple it’s, the pruning wants, method, and timing are the identical.

Types of Japanese maples and their pruning needs — Japanese maples are available in a putting array of foliage colours. Listed below are three from my yard.

How the type of a Japanese maple impacts its pruning

Earlier than diving into the when and how-to of pruning Japanese maple timber, let’s shortly discover how the type of your tree will influence its pruning wants.

The objective is at all times to take care of the general form of the tree and its pure kind, to not prune it into a good, restricted ball or mound. These elegant timber have a department construction that’s so putting; why limit their lovely pure behavior by shearing them right into a pressured form? Most kinds of Japanese maple tree require little or no pruning to take care of their kind, if any in any respect. On this case, much less is certainly extra. That being stated, there are certainly instances when pruning Japanese maples is important.

Later on this article, I current a step-by-step information to trimming Japanese maple timber, whether or not they’re weeping or have an upright most important stem. I’ll additionally share explanation why you might have considered trying or must prune your tree. However first, let’s speak in regards to the timing.

How to trim a cutleaf maple shrub — Japanese maples have a stupendous pure kind. Pruning shouldn’t be performed to form them, however somewhat to take away useless or broken branches, or to take away reverted development.

When to prune Japanese maple timber

To keep up the well being of the tree, correctly timed trimming is important. Listed below are some easy-to-follow tips for when to prune Japanese maple timber.

With Japanese maples, elimination of useless stems and branches can occur at any time of yr (extra on this in a later part).
One of the best time of yr to prune any residing wooden is late fall to mid-winter (November through January in Pennsylvania the place I stay). I don’t prune my Japanese maple any time after January. You’ll be taught why in a second.
In contrast to most different deciduous timber which are finest pruned anytime throughout dormancy, maples shouldn’t be pruned in late winter.
For the general well being of your tree, prune solely whenever you completely must. Pruning shouldn’t be performed robotically or with the intent to pressure your Japanese maple into an unnatural form (until after all you’re rising it as a potted bonsai tree).

When NOT to prune a Japanese maple

Studying when NOT to prune a Japanese maple is simply as essential as studying when TO prune one. If pruning happens in late winter, the injuries weep sap (this is the reason sugar maples are tapped in late winter; it’s when the sap is operating). Whereas this received’t kill the tree, it will probably doubtlessly carry consideration from bugs and the pruning wounds can keep open longer, rising the chance of pathogen publicity. Spring and summer season pruning also needs to be prevented for a similar motive.

Removing deadwood from a small tree — Whereas deadwood like this department will be pruned out at any time, stay wooden ought to solely be reduce from late fall by way of mid-winter.

Instruments for pruning a Japanese maple

Cleanliness is vital when pruning any timber, Japanese maples included. Use a pair of pruners (I desire bypass pruners over anvil sorts), loppers, or a compact folding pruning noticed, relying on the diameter of the department you’re eradicating. All pruning instruments have to be disinfected each earlier than engaged on the tree and when pruning is full to keep away from spreading pathogens from one plant to a different. Use a disinfectant spray or wipe, or dip the blades in a ten% bleach resolution.

By no means use long-bladed hedge shears or a motorized hedge clipper to shear a Japanese maple. Pruning needs to be gradual and considered, with cautious consideration going down earlier than deciding the place to make every reduce (or if a reduce must be made in any respect).

The best way to prune a Japanese maple: A step-by-step information

First, keep in mind that no matter what device you’re utilizing for the job, a clear and correct reduce is important. Minimize off the department on a slight angle all the best way all the way down to the department collar. Don’t depart a stub behind (see photographs). Subsequent, comply with these steps for correct pruning.

A correct and incorrect pruning cut — At left, you’ll see an improper pruning reduce. See the stump left behind? At proper is an accurate reduce. I’ve used my pruners to take the department off all the best way all the way down to the department collar.

Step 1: Take away any useless branches

Start pruning your Japanese maple by eradicating any deadwood. You should definitely test the tree’s underside. That’s the place a lot of the deadwood is usually discovered.

In case you uncover a totally useless department, it’s at all times okay to chop it off, it doesn’t matter what time of yr it’s. Undecided whether or not or not a specific department is useless? Bend the outer tip of the department together with your arms. If it’s nonetheless versatile, it will not be totally useless. But when it simply breaks, it’s finest to take away the department completely.

Remove deadwood first when pruning — This Japanese maple within the nook of my yard has some useless branches. They’ll be the primary stage of pruning.

Step 2: Take away any broken branches

Subsequent, prune off any damaged or broken branches. The precise cuts take away the limb a number of inches previous the purpose of the harm. The load of snow and ice, or harm from animals or individuals, can break branches. These needs to be eliminated throughout the pruning course of.

Step 3: Prune out any reverted branches

Sometimes there shall be new development in your Japanese maple that doesn’t match the remainder of its development, significantly if the range is variegated. These reverted shoots needs to be pruned off to take care of the range’s distinctive kind. Within the case of a variegated Japanese maple, the reverted stems could also be stable coloured. For cutleaf varieties, the reverted shoot could have leaves that aren’t as finely serrated.

When to prune Japanese maple trees — Right here you may see that my tree has developed some reverted branches. The branches on the heart with darker and bigger leaves have to be pruned off, however I’m going to attend till the right time (late fall by way of mid-winter) to take away them.

Step 4: Prune off any upright branches if the tree is a weeping sort

For weeping sorts, sometimes a department could shoot straight up into the air. Prune off these upright sprouts throughout the correct pruning time (late fall by way of mid-winter). Grafted varieties may additionally ship up straight sprouts from the bottom of the trunk, under the grafting level. These needs to be pruned off, too.

Step 5: Take away branches which are overstepping their bounds

Understanding when to prune Japanese maple timber additionally includes making the tough determination to trim again a department whether it is intruding on a sidewalk or driveway. Ideally, well-placed Japanese maples are far sufficient away from often used pathways to keep away from having to prune them, however sometimes, you will have to chop off branches to make human journey simpler.

Steps for trimming a Japanese maple — This Japanese maple is on the prime of the steps and retaining wall in our yard. I’ve planted it far sufficient away from the walkway to provide us loads of room to move even because it grows.

Step 6: Trim out lateral branches however provided that you will need to

Japanese maples have such a novel construction, with lateral branches that elegantly prolong out from the trunk. A time could come whenever you’ll take into account eradicating a complete department or limbing-up the underside of the tree to make approach for mowers or to open up a view. I don’t advocate this kind of pruning until it’s completely mandatory. Japanese maples are a lot better off rising to their pure kind.

Small trees for the yard — This upright Japanese maple will develop right into a putting specimen if it’s not ruined by improper pruning. Typically one of the best pruning isn’t any pruning in any respect.

When to depart nicely sufficient alone

I’ll finish by saying that pruning Japanese maples is certainly not mandatory. In case your tree has no harm and loads of room to develop, you shouldn’t prune it in any respect. However should you should prune, be sensible. Gentle pruning is all that’s wanted typically. I hope you discovered this text on how and when to prune Japanese maple timber useful.

For extra nice panorama timber, please go to the next articles:

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