Kashima maple pruning
First off, I'm new to this forum so hello to everyone! The name is justin, and I am a new home owner trying his best to turn a very boring back yard into something worth looking at! I posted this in the Japanese garden sectioned, but figured this might be the more appropriate place for this post. I recently got into Japanese maples because, well, do I really have to say anything? Anyway my latest is a Kashima dwarf. I saw it sitting at the edge of the nursery, it was the only kashima there and I immediately knew it had to go home with me! I've been doing some research on maintaining JMs and I know typically you should wait awhile after planting before trying to prune. I understand pruning is done partly to encourage proper air flow which helps keep the plant healthy. Looking at mine it seems like maybe it is a little too bushy. It came in a five gallon container but I have no idea how old it is. I'm guessing 4-5 years by the size, however you might notice in some of the pictures there is a considerable amount of fertilizer present, perhaps that may have lead to faster growth. Anyway I was wondering if the tree is old enough, should I still wait a season before pruning, or do I need to wait for the roots to settle in? I don't want to rush into pruning if it's not necessary. Any advice would be appreciated!
Comments (8)
Jason
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Japanese maple kashima as bonsai
Comments (10)It would be fabulous, though has as yet to have had any 'movement' trained into the trunk line, though that's something that could be achieved by an experienced bonsai person. However, bonsai is not something to be attempted on a casual basis by someone unfamiliar with it, certainly not on the tree you have, so I suggest you first try to find a local club, etc. in your area to advise you on what to do when, and how. It would be a relatively major undertaking for a complete newbie and you wouldn't want to be the agent of doom for such a beautiful little tree... nor be discouraged from future attempts at bonsai. Please do not just dig it up now (a bad time of year for that tree) without knowledgable help. Where you live is quite important btw, so it also would be a good idea to learn your climate zone and post it in your profile....See MorePruning advice for sugar maple
Comments (6)This tree is so young that it has not became aware that it is a tree. give it several years to develop, and then do the trimming as said above. When we planted our oak tree, which was much larger than yours, every year I would worry because the leader would start off grown at an angle to the the tree. Today 11 years later, the tree is as straight and full as you would expect a tree to be....See MoreMaple Tree Pruning Help
Comments (5)I agree....but not for the same reasons. Pruning is much, much more than just what equipment you might need. There is a lot of science to it as well as aesthetic skill and finesse and the tone of your post/questions indicates you have not had a lot of previous experience doing this. Unless you know what you are doing and why and how, hire a professional...See MorePruning Advice For Red Maple with Codominant Leaders
Comments (4)A little late for a tree that size. Structure pruning needs to be done from the time the tree is very young, a little at a time for several seasons. It would be difficult, to change its open deccurrent growth at this time....See More
magpiepix 5b/6a
9 years agoJason
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMagpie, that's a shishio hime. It's been doing pretty well for me, but both of my JMs have been getting a lit of pruning lately thanks to my heavy footed dogs. they seem to think the trees are a target to aim for while running through the backyard! My poor trees have been taking a beating from them : (
magpiepix 5b/6a
9 years agoJason
9 years ago
Mike McGarvey
9 years ago
magpiepix 5b/6a