How to prune the maple

When to prune the maple tree

The Japanese maple tree begins to dormant after its leaves fall. At this time, you can promptly prune away the old, sick and weak branches to reduce nutrient consumption and promote vigorous growth of the plant.

How to prune the branches of the Japanese maple

Seedling pruning : When the seedlings grow to 30-50 cm in height, they need to be pruned. Usually, it is enough to leave one main trunk, and cut off the side branches with low branching points and suckers from the base. Each main and side branches should be shortened to make the overall distribution more reasonable.

Pruning during the dormant period : When pruning the Acer palmatum during the dormant period, the main thing is to cut off the diseased and weak branches, overlapping branches and crossed branches. Some branches that sprout too long during the growth period should be shortened to make the overall plant shape consistent, so that it will recover more quickly.

Tips for pruning Acer palmatum

The principle of pruning Japanese maple trees is to retain healthy branches and prune off dead branches and rotten leaves that are not growing well. If the branches and leaves are very dense, they also need to be pruned away to concentrate nutrients in the remaining branches and leaves and promote the growth of side branches.

The Japanese maple grows fast when pruned

Cut off the lower-growing branches of the Japanese maple and thin out the dense small side branches to increase ventilation and light transmission, so that the plant can better carry out photosynthesis and promote the overall growth of the plant.

Tips for pruning Japanese maple

When pruning the Japanese maple, you should use special pruning tools. Gardening scissors are best, as they are sharper and can make the wound smoother and facilitate recovery. After pruning, you should also strengthen management and do not let the wound get wet, otherwise the wound will easily rot and affect recovery. In addition, after pruning during the dormant period, proper insulation treatment is required, especially for potted plants, to avoid frostbite.