The Japanese maple has an intricate structure made up of many small branches, which develop on larger central branches. Usually trees develop autonomously in a harmonious way, but often proper maintenance is also necessary to avoid excessive or unbalanced vegetative growth. The Japanese maple needs light pruning to maintain its symmetrical structure.
Steps
Step 1. Prune to shape the adult plant
Sometimes pruning is done to keep the plant healthy, but more often it is done only for aesthetic reasons. You can remove dead, dying, or diseased branches regardless of age. Wait until the plant is 2-3 years old to remove the healthy but unwanted branches instead.
Step 2. Prune in summer or winter
Technically, the only time of year when you don't need to prune is spring, as this is the time when sap develops. The best time is late summer-winter.
- In winter, you can see the branches clearly and you can more easily distinguish those that interfere with the structure of the plant.
- In the summer you will have a better idea of the appearance of the plant without certain branches. Also, by pruning in the summer, the plant will be less stimulated to grow new branches, and will be more orderly.
Step 3. Learn the optimal branch arrangement
There are two main types of Japanese maple: upright and bushy.
- The upright maple has the main branches facing up, like most trees. The branches will look like open fans.
- Bush maple, or weeping maple, has branches that grow upward, to the sides, and downward. The outermost leaves create a veil that hides the inside of the tree.
Step 4. Cut the dead branches
The most important thing to do when pruning a maple is to cut any dead or diseased branches. Dry branches are more likely to be found towards the inside of the tree, facing downwards. They dry out due to lack of light. If a branch is sick, the disease can spread to the rest of the plant if you don't take action.
Step 5. Cut the branches that cross or intertwine
Branches that overlap each other usually spoil the shape of the tree. And even if the problem isn't very visible, they can still hinder each other in growth. Remove one, or both, by sawing them at the base, as close to the trunk as possible. Don't just cut where they start to overlap.
Step 6. Cut off any branches that might interfere with the main branches
Branches that bend down end up interfering with those below. If they are too close, the foliage will look uneven. The goal is to try to lighten the whole plant equally. Between two branches you can eliminate the weaker one, or the less important one for the shape of the plant.
Step 7. Cut the branches that are growing in the wrong direction
In an upright maple, for example, you will need to cut the branches that grow downwards. For the other varieties, eliminate the suckers, that is the low and thin branches that extend vertically. Cut the chosen branches as close to the trunk as possible.
Keep in mind that many "weeping" maples have curved and irregular branches. It's normal. If they do not interfere with other branches, do not cut them
Step 8. Perform selective pruning on the buds
These trees have opposite buds or branches, meaning that the smaller branches grow from the larger ones in pairs, forming a Y with an extra branch in the center. Remove this central sprig to form your Y. Cut as close to the intersection as possible.
Step 9. You can remove the lower branches if you want
For upright varieties, the lower side branches may make it difficult to pass under the tree, or they may create problems for other nearby plants. In the "weeping" varieties it is normal for the branches to hang downwards: you can cut them if they touch the ground, but it is only an aesthetic matter.
Step 10. Select buds to target branch growth
When you see the buds forming, you can manage them to direct the growth of the plant. The buds typically point in the direction of growth of the tree, and many of them will become important branches. But if a bud seems to be in the wrong position, you can remove it with your fingers to prevent a branch from developing from there.
Step 11. Maintain balance through light pruning
You will limit excessive or unbalanced regrowth of the branches.
To maintain the balance of the plant it is also important to avoid too large differences in the diameter of the branches. If you over prune a large branch, it will take on a shape that is disproportionate to the rest of the plant
Step 12. Do not touch the main branches
Never eliminate a branch with a diameter greater than half of the trunk. In older plants do not remove branches larger than a quarter or a third of the trunk.
Step 13. Never remove more than 20% of the tree top
Cutting too many apex branches will stimulate overgrowth and cause unnecessary stress to the plant. Also avoid removing more than a quarter of the leaves on all branches. Otherwise the branch risks not being able to absorb enough nutrients.
Advice
- Take some time to observe your Japanese maple from different angles. Examine it from base to top and vice versa. Look at its shape from multiple points before deciding where to cut.
- Do not try to contain the growth of the plant by pruning it. If a tree is too large for the space it is placed in, you should remove it and replant it in a suitable place, replacing it with a smaller plant.
