Japanese maple pruning

18 years ago

My daughter just bought a home with a large japanese maple (12') planted way to close to the house and enterance sidewalk. Probably very cute when the previous owner planted it; now it's in the eaves, cable wires, blocks the sidewalk and a doorway. Trunk is ~ 5" at 1 foot off the ground.

We both agree it has to be pruned or removed. Seems a shame to remove it, so do you think it might survive a heavy pruning now or should we wait until September - has to be dealt with by then since other constrution work will force the issue?

Thanks in advance - sprooo

P.S. Any tips on heavy pruning. I usually do mine in late winter and only a light trim; have never tried to halve a tree before.

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Comments (7)

Layne_Uyeno
18 years ago
Hi,

I'd say wait till all the leaves have fallen for the winter to do any heavy pruning. Being a deciduous tree the maple needs to make and store nutrients before winter to push out growth in the spring. Also, you can see the branching better without the leaves. This will give you a better idea about what *needs* to be pruned and what would look better pruned.

Layne
sprooo
Original Author
18 years ago
Layne,

Thanks for the help. Will try and postpone until late fall.

Take care- Sprooo
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I've been thinking how best to answer this question ever since you posted........it is not exactly straight forward :-) First, all named cultivars of Japanese maples are grafted......or almost always. The shoots of the desired cultivar are taken from the parent tree as cuttings and then grafted on to a seedling species JM. For upright trees (like Bloodgood), the grafts are typically about 6-8 above the root flare but can be higher. Usually not lower - low grafts are typically reserved for the weeping forms like most dissectums. Grafting is done while everything is very tiny - really just seedlings. Part of the appeal of Japanese maples is their often very sculptural natural growth habit. This can sometimes be enhanced by pruning but is seldom created by pruning. A great deal of this sculptural quality is determined with the selection of the tree at a young age, looking for attributes like low branching or interesting bends. And then you make the most of those going forward both through training and very selective pruning.
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Hello all, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I too would prefer to leave the tree alone if possible. The only reason I thought it needed some heavier pruning was because I thought that a 50/50-ish "V" split at the base weakened the tree. For this reason, I felt it might have been a good idea to prune the right side canopy this year to slow its growth and eliminate it completely next year. But if the overall sentiment is that the tree is healthy and the large split at the base won't weaken it, then I am relieved to know I can leave it alone. With regards to shape: I am ok with its current shape. The tree does look like it was trying to escape from the shady spot, and from some angles it's easy to see it was growing in a specific direction... Also, after transplanting it to its new spot, the canopy does brush against the deck (more than brush, I'd say some of the branches can easily go a couple of feet past the railing in some spots), but if that can be left alone, I will. Thank you for the heads up about the cut paste. I already ordered it, but I will refrain from using it. PS= if anyone has any advice on the best way to propagate some of the cuts from this tree, it would be great. Is there a branch diameter after which propagation becomes impossible? I understand smaller, younger cuts are easier to propagate, but some of the larger pieces I cut (see pic) are about 2cm in diameter at the base, and I would love to propagate them as well if there's a way.
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paul3636
18 years ago
The branches you prune may be subject to die back so leave the branches a little longer to compensate for the die back. Finish your pruning in late winter.
Herb
18 years ago
I'm not sure that this article is exactly what you need, but if not, it may lead you to another of Nancy Fiers' articles that will help -

Click here
Carol_Ann
18 years ago
I'd prune in late winter. Also, please keep in mind that for the health of the tree you shouldn't remove more than 25% of the tree per year, so it may take you a few years to get it back where you want it. Keep in mind it's going to do it's best to grow back to the size it is now so it's going to need ongoing maintenance. I try to leave trees whenever possible and this one sounds like something I'd keep but you might want to think about whether or not this is one you want to try to move (root prune it the season before you move it) (and keep in mind it might not survive the move) or just take out and replace with something that will be the right *mature* size for that spot so cutting it back isn't an issue. If you really have questions about it, have a certified arborist (not a tree-trimmer but someone with arborist training and certification) come take a look at it. It would probably be well worth the investment. Good luck!
griseum
18 years ago
I think you should try to sell it to a nursery. It is a weed by definition. A plant in the wrong place. I know it's hard to imagine a thousand dollar tree as a weed. But, this tree will only be an eyesore pruned back. By the time you get it pruned, the trunk will be too big for the foliage. It will look funny. A nursery may pay you for it and take it out. They may even do a swap and replace it with something that will fit better. This is one of the toughest decisions to make in landscaping. Your tree could easily be worth thousands of dollars. Maybe you sould remove the house. Just kidding. Good luck.
snowbabies01_hotmail_com
12 years ago
I have a weeping maple top is greenish & bottom is pretty brownish or red why????????
does it need to be cut or pruned Pike nursery said dont trim or cut when bought????
why would it be 2// colors

Japanese maple pruning

Comments (7)

Layne_Uyeno

sprooo
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Japanese maple pruning

Comments (7)

Layne_Uyeno

sproooOriginal Author

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Herb

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griseum

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sprooo
Original Author