Pruning is the main key care task needed when it comes to Japanese maples to get them thriving for as long as possible.
Regardless of the type of Japanese maple, light trimming under the branches is recommended as the branches droop as the plant matures, and weighty limbs can grow too low, putting stress on the rest of the tree.
Pruning Japanese maples mostly involves removing dead wood and fine stems, which obstruct the tree’s handsome skeleton. Young trees need to have the lowest limbs removed as well to enhance clearance.
Rebecca Wolken, a gardening expert at HappySprout, shared advice on when and how gardeners should prune their Japanese maples.
She said: “When you start thinking about pruning the plants in your garden, it’s vital to their health that you do your research and find out what time of year is best for that specific plant.
“If you’re just going to be snipping off a few branches, then you can do that any time of year without affecting the health of the Japanese maple.
“However, if you plan to prune a lot of branches to change the shape or size of the tree, you’ll want to do that in the winter.”
Pruning Japanese maples in the winter is crucial because they’re dormant and won’t bleed sap from cuts that can weaken them.
However, if you have the right tools clean and sharp even light pruning can be done at any time of year.
A gardening pro shared some essential tips, noting: “The most important part of pruning your Japanese maple is what you use to cut it.”
“To ensure the plant doesn’t get sick and die, only use disinfected and sharp pruning shears. A sharp tool makes a clean cut and makes it easier on you and the tree.”
To prevent the spread of disease, gardeners should sterilise their tools with a simple bleach and water or alcohol solution between plants.
When trimming branches, experts say to cut close but not flush to the trunk, leaving a small visible stump. Ragged cuts can harm the plant more than a clean slice. For those with lots of pruning tasks, patience is essential – it might take one or two years.
Rebecca added a cautionary note: “Don’t cut off a large portion of the tree at once. This can send the plant into shock and kill it.”
“Instead, cut a few branches one year, then wait until the next year or the year after that to cut the rest of the branches. This gives the plant plenty of time to recover from the first pruning, avoids killing it and allows it to easily handle another pruning the following year.”
The general rule of thumb, even on neglected older trees, is to remove no more than 30 percent of the plant in any year.
Make slow, careful cuts as you assess your progress. Step back frequently when Japanese maple trimming. This will allow gardeners to see the whole tree and plan the next cut to preserve and enhance the natural shape of the plant.
For gardeners who were nervous about pruning their prized Japanese maple or hesitant to plant one if it needed a lot of maintenance, Rebecca said: “You can rest assured that these are generally easy to grow, low-maintenance plants.
“The Japanese maple rewards you with stunning colour, distinct growth patterns, and the perfect centrepiece for your landscape design.”
