best time to prune japanese red maple tree

BEST TIME TO PRUNE JAPANESE RED MAPLE TREE HOW TO

Pruning cuts should always be made as close as possible to the collar without cutting into the collar itself. Never prune more than 1/3 of living tree material per year. Stake young trees to ensure they grow upright.Īlways use the proper tool to prune a Japanese maple: use hand pruners for branches up to 1/4 of an inch in diameter, loppers are used for anything up to 2 inches, and a pruning saw for anything larger than 2 inches. Remove the BDD (broken, dying, or dead) branches. Cleaning your tools sanitizes them and reduces the risk of spreading pathogens between tools and plants.įollow these guidelines for pruning a Japanese maple:Īlways prune away any lower branches that look different or have dissimilar leaves from the top of the tree.

You always want to start by cleaning your tools with a solution of 90% alcohol or higher or a solution of bleach and water. You know what we want it to look like and what does not belong on a tree (broken, dying, or dead branches), and that is the most important thing. It is hard to believe, but pruning a Japanese maple is easy. Unless you pruned too much, your tree should have not suffered any negative effects. Look at the overall shape of the tree to see if you like it. At that point, examine its form and see if there are any dissimilar leaves.

Make sure to assess it again after it leafs out (i.e., the buds open). Plan to prune the Japanese maple as a part of an annual health inspection you do when it's dormant in the winter. However, Japanese maples take extremely well to pruning and can be pruned throughout the year, if needed. Usually this occurs anytime between the first frost and late winter. Like most trees, Japanese maples should be pruned when the tree is completely dormant. If you feel tempted to skip pruning a Japanese maple for health, remember that you can't have a good looking tree if it isn't healthy. Make no mistakes every form of Japanese maple, whether weeping or upright, must be pruned to keep its visual appeal. Prune it to establish its shape or to maintain a shape. Remove any dead, dying or broken branches, then prune for aesthetics with what's left. Japanese maples should be pruned for health and aesthetics (i.e., its shape).

BEST TIME TO PRUNE JAPANESE RED MAPLE TREE HOW TO

Here's our best guidance on when and how to prune Japanese maples with instructions so easy even a beginner can do it.

Best time to prune japanese red maple tree