This gave me both pictures and, "Knowing how to choose the branches to cut and how much to take out was the most help. Yes. Remove any limbs that are rubbing against each other or are too close. The third step is to separate the tree … Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Avoid pruning the tree in weather hotter than 80 °F (27 °C), especially if the tree is located in full sun. Maple trees are known for their brilliant fall color as well as the ease with which they “bleed” sap. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! It covers all important points and the few tips at the end were helpful, too. ", with plenty of USABLE information - especially regarding the best time to prune. For tips from our Horticulture reviewer on how to prune the complex branches of a Laceleaf Maple, read on! Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. I have begun to learn how to proceed next year to help it be the best tree it can be. Should be an interesting project to make it look graceful. Thank you. Plant Specialist. ", illustrations were perfect, conveying just what is pertinent. ", illustrations were straightforward. I feel ready to proceed. Pruning the upright Japanese maple involves four main steps. Thanks! The information was clear and will certainly help me to make good decisions about, "I loved the step by step instructions with pictures! Place the cut back to the point of healthy wood or to the parent branch just outside of the swollen branch collar. "My tree is about five years old and doing great. Can I prune the part on the ground without damaging the tree? Last Updated: October 22, 2020 The first is to prune off lower limbs that crowd other low-growing shrubs or possibly impede a walkway. ", make a special place for my granddaughters and me to lie on a blanket and read, or have a picnic. How do I tell the difference between Japanese Maples? Maple leaf buds are small and red, and they jut out from the tree branches. Make sure they are clean by wiping the blades with a light bleach and water solution to prevent spreading diseases that might have been acquired from other plants. Fall and winter are a common time to prune and shape most deciduous trees and shrubs, but not the Japanese Laceleaf! Deadwood branches are leafless in warm seasons and, throughout the year, grey with a brittle texture. ", cannot be put back and will not grow as previously. "boxy" shape and foliage is thick, providing perfect protection to several kinds of birds. Any tree trimming requires sharp, clean tools. There are many dwarf varieties of Japanese maple trees that are ideal for planting in a container. "Have a couple of Japanese maples, and I needed to learn how to prune them. It almost looks healthier than before. Your site gave me all the info I needed to make my new tree beautiful without killing it. Wait until your weeping maple has had a few years to grow. The general rule of thumb, even on neglected older trees, is to remove no more than 30 percent of the plant in any year. Your suggestions what, "Yes, it helped. Sharp blades create smooth cuts that heal better and cause fewer traumas to the tree. "I just purchased a home with a beautiful tree next to the driveway. Expert Interview. Step back frequently when Japanese maple trimming. Trim a Japanese maple lightly on an annual basis. Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. Step back from the tree several times as you prune the tree. Young trees need to have the lowest limbs removed to enhance clearance. You will be able to spot overgrown areas better from a distance. Your tree will look best and stay healthiest if you follow its natural pattern. In 30 years of working with landscaping, I have never seen any foundation damage, lifting of sidewalks or any aggressive root behavior from Japanese maples. The spring is when the maple has the most sap. My lace leaf maple is dragging on the ground. This article was VERY helpful. ", after reading "How to Prune Chinese Maple Trees". ", Inclusion of what to do and what not to do is also very informative. You can root a Japanese maple but it is something that should be done only in soil. Hope with some pruning, we can make it better. ", have lopped off my Japanese Maple and kept pruning until I was satisfied and killed my tree! Thank you. If we are patient, I am. Begin training the tree when it is two or three years old. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. 22 September 2020. With younger trees, cut off branches to shape the tree. [2] X Expert Source Monique Capanelli Plant Specialist Expert Interview. She provides plant and botanical design experiences, from small gifts to entire transformations, to shoppers as well as commercial clients including Whole Foods Market and The Four Seasons. The time has come, but we were unsure of when and how. Early spring snow in Denver killed the new and now the, "I am definitely a novice and all the advice was informative and helpful to me. It is beautiful and I will wait until late summer to prune. We tried, with the help of the nurseryman, to pick the best tree, but there are a couple of branches overlapping, and it looks crowded. Then, trim down any branches that jut out from the tree to maintain the tree’s shape and give new branches room to grow. As the tree continues to grow, you can remove branches that are the lowest. Thanks! I recommend you prune your Japanese maple in winter during the last frost of the season. You can purchase pruning tools at most garden centers or plant nurseries. Dead wood often appears at the bottom and inside of the tree, where the old growth becomes too shaded by the outer branches to thrive. Step back as far as you can that would allow you to see the entire tree form. ", help. Just take care not to remove more than half of the tree’s total mass. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. Put on sunscreen to protect your skin against the sun's UV rays. I'll get organic soil and mulch and pray the tree will survive. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Monique is a Certified Permaculture Designer. 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It had never been shaped and was growth heavy on, "I have 9 Japanese maples to shape and prune. TIP: Our expert gardening advisor, Kathy Bosin adds, "Never remove a limb that is greater than half the diameter of the tree's trunk. Thank you! These instructions provided the knowledge to trim it to the wonderful shape of a classic Japanese Maple, allowing sight lines over and around the tree. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. I have been looking for pruning information on quite a few, "I need to prune several maples. "Narrative description with clear illustrations of branch with shears in the position of a cut was very informative. The trick to pruning this type of Japanese maple is to allow its top layer to form a sort of canopy over the entire tree. Great step by step instructions with pictures. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Remove no more than 30 percent of the tree’s limbs at any one time. ", when, where, and which trees to prune at any gven time. Japanese maples can stand a lot of pruning, so don’t be afraid to cut your tree back pretty severely. Duston has since kept it tightly trimmed, allowing it to get full in the center. Pruning can take up to several hours. ", owners, so this article gave me confidence to try and make it thrive. http://www.finegardening.com/article/pruning-japanese-maples, http://www.japanesemaplesonline.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.showpage/pageID/8/index.htm, http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2009/01/how_to_prune_a_japanese_maple.html, https://gardenerdy.com/pruning-japanese-maple-trees, http://www.carryongardening.org.uk/shop/pruning-9acf4610/default.aspx, https://content.statefundca.com/safety/safetymeeting/SafetyMeetingArticle.aspx?ArticleID=97, https://www.thehandymansdaughter.com/prune-japanese-maple-trees/, http://www.treeremoval.com/trimming-and-pruning/how-and-when-to-prune-a-japanese-maple-tree/#.WtAd1OjOW3A, https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/its-time-to-thin-your-japanese-laceleaf-maple-tree-just-dont-go-crazy-with-the-pruning-shears/, https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2009/3-11/transplanting.html, https://www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/maple, http://www.bonsaitreegardener.net/types/japanese-maple, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To keep the form of a weeping Japanese maple tree, you should remove any branches that cross the midline of the tree. As a maple tree, the Japanese Laceleaf will bleed or ooze sap. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. Japanese maples are spectacular landscape tree specimens that offer year-round color and interest. ", I can correctly prune a Japanese maple tree with ease! Our confidence in successfully tackling the process of shaping and caring for our 3 year old, never before pruned centerpiece is quite high. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Sign up for our newsletter. Japanese maples can handle anything from a light trim to more extensive pruning, depending on the time of year and the tree's health. ", I'm afraid to prune it since it is doing so well. % of people told us that this article helped them. For older trees, you should mainly trim them to remove dead, weak, or crossing branches. Some Japanese maples may only grow 6 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2 m.), but others will achieve 40 feet (12 m.) or more. Trim A Japanese Maple. Removing too much foliage can make the tree vulnerable to sun scald. Thanks. Choose pruning shears for smaller branches and loppers for larger ones. This article has been viewed 621,549 times. Now that I've used your site, "My sister has a Japanese maple tree, but it looks very sick, with dry branches at the top and a few branches. ", visualize the tree branch angle. For me, the visual step-by-step pictures were most helpful. This article gave us a step-by-step plan, and I have added it to our favorites list. I'm feeling 100% more confident. These trees often have low-spreading canopies that arch out attractively, or may also be tall, angular trees with willowy limbs. Japanese maples are deciduous trees that are used as ornamental shade specimens. The clear direction and drawings are very helpful, and now I know, "Pruning of a maple tree - just moved and have a medium-sized tree which I would like to cut underneath boughs to, "Very simple and clear with the pictures. This helps produce an attractive form and silhouette. Cut off any live branches that are growing toward the center of the tree, since these are unlikely to survive. In this case, it was easy to decide which branch to cut. 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