How do you prune a Japanese maple tree?

How do you prune a Japanese maple tree?

If you’re planning to prune a Japanese maple yourself, follow these guidelines for best results:

1. Prune to remove dead branches mostly on the interior.
2. Avoid trying to majorly reshape.
3. Avoid shearing.
4. Use clean cuts back to lateral branches or buds.
5. Disinfect your tools after each tree to prevent the spread of disease.

Can Japanese maples be pruned to stay small?

Japanese maple trees can grow 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) per year, reaching 10 to 25 feet (3 to 7.6 metres) after 15 years but you can keep them to a smaller, manageable size with yearly pruning. Remove any diseased branches and cut back the small branches from the lower part of the tree.

How do you rejuvenate a Japanese maple tree?

Sprinkle a few pinches of granular fertilizer around the base of the tree, and water it in over the next few weeks. Be sure to do this in summer, not fall, as you do not want to stimulate the tree into growing just before winter.

When is the best time to trim a Japanese maple tree?

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. Know the tree. Spend some time getting to know its structure.

How do you shape a Japanese maple tree?

Disinfect your tools. Prepare a weak (roughly one part bleach to ten parts water) solution. Dip your blades in. This will prevent your tree from becoming infected when you prune. Start pruning and shaping. Prune the dead leaves and branches first.

What’s the best way to prune a maple tree?

Start by pruning less than you think you’ll need to cut to prevent over pruning. Cut back more if you see the need. Use pruning shears and loppers to shape your tree. Household scissors tend to make blunt cuts that take longer to heal.

What kind of care does a Japanese maple need?

Japanese maple care and pruning needs are minimal, which makes the tree an excellent choice for most garden needs. These trees often have low-spreading canopies that arch out attractively or may also be tall, angular trees with willowy limbs.