Japanese maples require precise care to prevent leggy growth, especially when young, and benefit notably from proper maintenance.
The experts at Jacksons Nurseries emphasise that the timing of is "key" to ensuring a healthy Acer plant and is a surefire way to "restore or enhance their natural beauty".
They insist: "Choosing the right time to prune is key - Japanese maples will bleed sap if pruning is done any later than the end of December."
As for the optimal time to get out in the garden, the Jacksons Nurseries team suggested that autumn is the best time for all varieties to stop trees from "bleeding" sap.
Pruning outside the dormant season could neglect this guidance and leave branches susceptible to lasting harm, although eliminating old growth is still vital for robust autumnal regeneration.
This advice applies to the taller Acer palmatum and the more diminutive 'weeping' Acer palmatum variety.
A garden guru from Fine Gardening cautioned: "While the average tree can handle light pruning, all cuts wound a plant. If your maple is in poor health, make minimal cuts or limit yourself to deadwood removal."
They added a crucial tip for those with weak Acer trees: "To be extra kind, avoid pruning during the tree's low-energy times: just as leaves emerge in the spring or when leaves are dropping in the autumn."
For normal Acers that are in good condition, the experts emphasised the importance of using the right equipment: "As with all ornamental trees, effective results always start with sharp, clean tools."
How to prune a Japanese maple treeSecateurs are generally all you need, though a keyhole saw is useful for thicker branches. Before making structural adjustments, remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches from the tree.
The team at Jackson Nurseries recommended going slowly to prevent inadvertently slicing into an adjacent branch, especially in young trees.
They warned eager pruners: "If you're impatient and chop them off you'll only make the problem worse as pruning away whippy branches only stimulates more of the same."
After addressing the top layer of branches, it's important to consider the lower limbs, eliminating those that interfere with surrounding flora or pavements.
"Check your tree over very carefully before commencing layer pruning, including getting under it and looking up, which will help you identify what you may want to prune", said the gardening gurus.
They stressed the importance of patience, emphasising: "If in doubt, don't cut". A keyhole saw is best for precise cuts on weeping Japanese maple trees, as it's gentler on the thin, brittle bark and less likely to harm the tree.
Limbs that are chunky and lack tapering or branching along their length might be visually unappealing; removing such limbs may be considered to retain the tree's aesthetic appeal.
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