If you know the actual species and cultivar, you can know what mature size and growth habit it usually attains. 1. Now here are my specific tips for pruning a laceleaf Japanese maple: When I approach a laceleaf maple (or any tree or shrub that I’m about to prune), I first walk around the tree to study its branches, silhouette and overall shape and structure. [All images by Swansons Nursery and/or Dan Gilchrist.]. Sign up now and receive $5 off your next purchase! You can always prune … Start removing small branches at their base (where they branch off from a larger branch). Now we might wish to reveal the tree's beauty even more. You will notice different details each time. Late winter or early spring is when to prune a Japanese maple. Actually, these maples can get quite large and need a great deal of room. 2) If you are new to this, especially for very dense trees, you might first try thinning it in winter (late Nov. - Feb in our region) when you can more easily see the branching structure. Use the same care and precision that you would on healthy branches. I have had frequent questions on pruning techniques and optimal pruning times of year for the Japanese Laceleaf Maple, and thought I would briefly list some info that could be helpful. Keep in mind that when pruning a Japanese maple to prune with restraint. You can alter the tree’s natural habits to a small degree, but if you try to keep it significantly smaller (more than 10 to 20%) or different in habit from what it is genetically “programmed” to do, you might create a misshapen, wild-sprouting beast. When pruning a lace leaf, the shape should form a canopy while when pruning an upright leaf, the shape you come out in a fan-style. Compared with many other trees and shrubs they have few pests or diseases and are versatile enough to thrive in locations ranging from full shade to full sun. If you can't get that information, you can still get clues about what it wants to do by observing its habit over recent history. Before cutting a branch, see where it goes. Make Sure the Tree Is Balanced. If you do nothing beyond this step, your tree will still look much better. as the owners had the same no vision of the future attitudes. When Japanese maples are small, it is absolutely essential that they be pruned for shape and character. Thank you for signing up! We might peek inside and see an impenetrable tangle of branches. As for what you want, is that branch headed in a good direction, or right for the house or a neighboring shrub? These tendencies should all be considered for what to redirect through pruning. . "Redirect growth energy" can mean cutting one of two branches so the growth tends to go left instead of right. After any of these steps, you might decide to stop and enjoy the progress you’ve made on your tree. Japanese laceleaf maples: The trunk of the laceleaf maple grows upward, and then hangs down. If heavy sap flow occurs, pruning should be delayed until it stops or wait until midsummer. You can always come back and do a little more after you’ve observed other pruning needs, or after you’ve gained more confidence. Laceleaf Maple pruning is often referred to as “shell pruning” because the top branches of the pruned maple look like shells. You may realize that instead of cutting three small branches, you could get the same result by tracing back to the origin of those branches and cutting one larger branch. … Do you see quite a difference? 3. It might look like a hopeless tangle at first, but have faith — Rome wasn’t pruned in a day, but one cut at a time. Redirect growth energy toward where we want it to grow. Of course, the size and age of your tree, and the type you have determines how you should prune them. If heavy sap flow occurs, pruning should be delayed until it stops or wait until midsummer. If removing the branch will spoil the shape of the tree do not remove it. If you need to snip or saw off larger dead branches, do so, but remember they can be quite brittle. Or removing certain branches growing through the middle of the plant to encourage a more open habit. This is a time lapse video of a recent Japanese Lace Leaf Maple I had the pleasure of pruning. Do not prune off more than ⅕ of the foliage or the crown of your Japanese Maple. But you might still have a lot of dense stuff that is living tissue, so we move on to Step 2. While walking a property in Livonia, I noticed this Laceleaf in the front landscape. For the interior, ask yourself: where’s the biggest, most dense section to declutter? This prevents damage from them rubbing wounds into each others’ bark. We prune our trees at the appropriate times of the year and pay attention to the response of each. A certain number of branch tips will have died back and these tips can be snapped off with your fingers, or larger branches can be cut with a pruning tool. Minimize any dead-end stubs. You can remove larger branches as the their need to be thinned becomes more obvious, and as you feel more confident. A couple of notes: 1) The principles for thinning Japanese maples also work for a host of other broadleaf ornamental trees and shrubs, especially those with attractive branching. Has it barely grown three inches from where you cut last year, or launched 3-foot-long whips? Then you’ve successfully pruned it, and now you have an idea of what to do in the future to keep it healthy and looking spectacular! These trees have a reputation for being hard to grow, but this is largely undeserved. Pruning a Japanese maple tree is not necessarily difficult, but may be intimidating at first — particularly for a weeping or “laceleaf” cultivar (Acer palmatum Var. When maples are pruned in late winter or early spring the wounds can be more damaging. Pruning a Japanese maple tree is not necessarily difficult, but may be intimidating at first — particularly for a weeping or “laceleaf” cultivar (Acer palmatum Var. Removing too much top affects the production of food energy (carbohydrates) and can result in poor root development. Pruning the upright Japanese maple involves four main steps. We recommend making a reservation to visit us. dissectum is a small ornamental tree with a dissected-leaf. Japanese maple from becoming larger. Never over-prune. Spring is the perfect time to prune Japanese maple trees, before the buds start to break into leaves. Walk-ins welcome as space allows. Work from the inside out, bottom to top, small branches before larger. The first step in pruning to restrict the size of the green laceleaf Japanese maple shown below, yet keep it tree like, is to remove some excess branches. But avoid cutting into the base collar of a branch. 1. If the tree hasn't been thinned in a while, its interior will almost certainly include dead branches, branch stubs and leaves which have been shaded out. Acer palmatum dissectum is a weeping variety of Japanese maple. A thorough pruning involves removing dead limbs and crossing branches (or branches that will cross in the future). "Redirect" can also mean nipping back long, leggy shoots to force more side branching or fruiting spurs. With attention given to their location in the garden and some minimal care, they will thrive and increase in beauty every year. If left to grow, this shoot will take over and out-compete the main tree. Firstly, you have to prune off the lower limbs which choke the lower shrubs or cause obstacles to walkways. Thank you for helping us update our new system by including your phone number. Pruning Japanese Maples to control height is a fight you won’t win. When maples are pruned in late winter or early spring the wounds can be more damaging. I hear some people say that they don’t like weeping Japanese maples (Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ and other cultivars) and my heart breaks. If it tends to grow either denser or more open, is that acceptable? Every tree has a geometric shape and a direction or pattern in which the branches flow. There are unfortunate examples out there of Japanese maples which have been sheared or pruned way too aggressively. Sometimes they need a few heading cuts if there are long, outer branches. Japanese Lace leaf Maple Pruning . These are easier to keep smaller and pruning twice a year will help maintain their size. Also, we generally eliminate crossing branches — removing one of any two which cross each other to the point of touching. Tips for Pruning Your Japanese Laceleaf Maple Tree. Enhance, or merely reveal its natural beauty. We know we don’t prune it the same way we would a fruit tree or hedge. People ask about trimming or pruning Japanese maples fairly often and the short answer is yes, you should prune your Japanese maples. . I would like to learn how to prune them well. The trick to pruning this type of Japanese maple is to allow its top layer to form a sort of canopy over the I has the most beautiful little 4 ft. Japanese maple in Macon Mo. The width of these trees, on the other hand, can be somewhat modified. Does it seem to want to sprout from bare branches and grow more dense, or shed all its interior branches and stretch out into more of a leggy look? Fall and winter are a common time to prune and shape most deciduous trees and shrubs, but not the Japanese Laceleaf! Work around the plant at least twice (if possible). How to prune a weeping maple. Our promise: we will never sell your number or use it to make unsolicited calls! Open up views of attractive/unique branching inside and perhaps views through the tree. The upper limbs are drooping and the tree's feathery, bright red leaves turn deep burgundy or … Pruning the maple several times a year is a great way to keep the maple in good health and looking elegant. Remove any shoots growing from the base of the plant whose leaves look different from the rest of the plant. Preserve foliage masses at the ends of major branches. Dwarf Japanese maples are often used in containers because they get fairly close to full-size in most containers. Pruning is an ongoing process. Get your gloved hands (or your whole body, if it's a big enough tree) into the middle of all that dense stuff, and snap (if very small) or cut off any dead material you can reach. It will look like a shell , hence the name shell pruning. Or shearing the face of a hedge to force more dense internal growth. I like to say that we prune a plant to encourage it in a healthy direction and help it physically and visually “breathe.” Along with “encourage,” I tend to describe pruning with such terms as "nudge" or "persuade," rather than "force" or "control. To prune the upright Japanese Maple tree, you need to follow 4 major steps. Observe how, even after cleaning out and thinning, there may still be variations in branch density around the tree. We explain and show the steps to properly prune a laceleaf Japanese maple in summer. There’s one more step. One way to start is by lightly heading back any long branches on the tree’s perimeter which might crowd neighboring plants and structures or touch the ground (especially in the case of weepers). It’s an easy task to “warm up” and get to know the tree a bit before wading into the interior for the main event. I recommend pruning maples between mid-July and August, a period when sap won’t run from cuts. Thin: Open up light and air circulation. They can be grown in the garden, in containers and of course they are ideal su… I recommend a light pruning once in late spring and hard pruning in mid to late winter. You can see through the thinner areas easier. Does your tree seem to “breathe” easier? Swansons Nursery is a Part of Seattle's History - and its Future, Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98117, United States. Weeping Japanese maples tend to become little more than bushes -- weeping to the ground and so dense that their branching and trunk can't be seen. Thank you so much for the information on pruning Japanese Maples. Many of the principles also apply to other trees and shrubs. Japanese maples can handle anything from a light trim to more extensive pruning, depending on the time of year and the tree's health. An over-pruned tree can recover, but it might take a few years to look right again. Don't remove every last tiny branch inside the tree — the goal is to improve the transparency, not hollow it out completely. The graceful flow of the trunk, delicate leaves flickering in the wind, translucent in light, the beautiful colors. You will receive a confirmation email soon. After planting, prune out broken branches and those with weak or narrow crotches. In addition, don’t remove more than a … You might not get them all; the goal is to minimize. To avoid causing stress or stimulating unsightly growth, never remove more than one-fifth of a Japanese maple’s crown; you should also not prune a branch that is more than half the diameter of the parent stem. Answer: the next most dense zone you find, and so on. The top layer of leaves forms a crown, covering the other branches and leaves. Or more horizontal instead of downward. They are commonly referred to as “Laceleaf” Japanese maples. Back inside the tree canopy (if you can) look for that most dense zone and find the smallest branches there. These are heading cuts, sometimes overused to control the size of a plant. Swansons is open 9am-6pm DailyEarly Closure at 3pm on Dec. 24Closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day & January 4th. Shape or layer: Create “clouds” & spaces between them. It is commonly known as weeping Japanese maple tree or laceleaf Japanese maple.Occasionally it is also referenced as cutleaf Japanese maple or threadleaf Japanese maple.It is native to Japan, Korea and China. If it hasn't been pruned for several years, it can be a dramatic improvement. Our promise: we will NOT sell or use this number to make unsolicited calls! Lynn prefers to prune Japanese maples in late summer, but beginners will find it easier to prune when trees are leafless and dormant in late fall to midwinter. It’s amazing how much you can change and improve the shape of a plant just by pruning it. A Japanese maple will grow the size container it is put in. These are all thinning cuts. The trees should not be pruned during early spring when buds are breaking, during leaf expansion, or in late autumn because the wounds won’t have enough time to heal before winter conditions of freezing or dampness. Interior branches get shaded out and die off — not necessarily an unhealthy situation but they add to the clutter. Laceleaf or dissectum type varieties generally grow to about 6-8 feet tall and wide. The branches or bones of maple … I lightened the tree and started to add definition and layers. Do the same for any branches which are broken or showing wilted leaves. As a maple tree, the Japanese Laceleaf will bleed or ooze sap. If not, keep going. The decisions about which branch to cut are more intentional than the random cutting in the earlier steps, but the technique is the same — removing one branch at a time at its base and observing how much it thins the density there. Learn more about the general pruning principles described here by reading these pruning posts: Pruning 101,Spring Pruning: What Should I Do?, and Spring Pruning Part 2: Thinning. In a shaded setting, is it determined to grow one direction to reach more light? Secondly, you need to prune off the deadwood. Without the leaves in the way, you're able to see the shape of the tree itself and guide it to create the look you want. July 16, 2013. 3. On a small weeper, this might be anything under 1/8" in diameter. Let’s break them into two categories, upright or dissected and weeping. If so, and you feel it's thin enough for that zone, move on to another zone and start removing small branches there to achieve about the same density. You can choose to open up those thinner areas a bit more, creating some separation between the denser zones — gaps between the "clouds.". Pruning a Japanese Maple Tree Start by pruning back branches that point to the inside of the tree, grow straight up or currently rub against other branches. Fortunately, it’s really not that difficult to prune Japanese laceleaf maples, as long as you follow some general guidelines. Give newly planted trees and shrubs only minimal pruning. Next, prune off dead wood — that is, any dead twigs or brittle branches that no longer grow foliage. Most maples look best with periodic thinning to open up their centers, make them more translucent, and reveal their structure. For stiff, twisty branches on a weeper, some crossing branches may be essential to the character of the tree, and not likely to move and rub against each other, so it’s not as necessary to remove them all. On a large upright tree, it might be 1/2" diameter or smaller, but size is relative, of course. A small container will dwarf the size of the tree from the size the tree would naturally be in the landscape. Some might be small enough to snap off by hand. This is its natural dormant period and less injury is caused by Japanese maple trimming during this time. Exactly what you prune out of your Japanese maple will depend upon the variety of tree you have. Heavy sap flow can lead to disease invasion and weakening of the tree. Improve its health and/or productivity (of flowers or fruit), primarily through allowing greater circulation of air and sunlight. Cut a few branches randomly out of this dense zone, then notice what difference it makes in the density. Shaping is largely about identifying masses or layers or branches and foliage, and thinning some more to open up space between them. Note: We have updated to a new POS system. The first is that although it’s … We've improved health and transparency (visibility of the branching structure) with the clean out and thinning. Top layers will act as a protective cover of foliage for the entire tree. . The weeping Japanese Maple is a beautiful tree with its low arching branches reaching to the … Whenever you’re pruning Japanese maple trees, it’s important to … Barn & Field Café is open 9am-2pm daily for to-go coffee, phone orders, and take-away orders. With young trees, leave some of the lower limbs and sprouts even though they will be removed later. Japanese maples are among the most rewarding trees to prune because of their shape and the wide vocabulary of their branching structure—from the strongest limb to the most delicate twig. dissectum). I constantly (if subconsciously) ask myself three questions when pruning: Determining what the tree wants is a combination of research and observation. We might perceive it as fragile and delicate, and we’re afraid to mess up its natural beauty through improper pruning. Click the link in this email to finalize your subscription. This post contains affiliate links. Can you start to see through much more than when you started? Young trees may need such heading or a little redirecting of awkward branches, but go easy — there will be plenty of future opportunities to guide them as they grow. Japanese maples are low-maintenance trees with beautiful red foliage. Try to anticipate the direction of future growth. Pruning Japanese Maples: Japanese laceleaf maple pruning is also called “shell pruning”. Step back and take your time. Okay, I made that up just to see if you’re still reading. Please help us merge our records and serve you better by giving us your phone number. When you sign up for Swansons’ e-Garden Club you’ll receive members-only perks, such as invitations to special events, early notification of sales and promotions, helpful gardening tips, information about workshops, and exclusive discounts. These include dead or brittle branches that no longer produce foliage. Clean out and thin this zone to make it less dense (details below), then... "Where shall I cut next?" Reed Pugh. Balance the branch density around the tree. Spring Pruning – Laceleaf Japanese Maple – Livonia, MI Ornamental Pruning. Many maples are grafted onto an understock that in most cases will be more vigorous than the grafted scion. The clean-out step can be a messy, uncomfortable job, but well worth it. I used to have a tree trimming and landscaping service in Sacramento CA., yrs, ago, we were selective about which trees to close nub. It will only encourage faster growth and thinner, weaker branches. Your upright is usually larger and more “tree” like. ", Japanese maples are naturally beautiful but can grow so dense as to obscure their elegant or exotic branching structure. As a maple tree, the Japanese Laceleaf will bleed or ooze sap. The deadwood, which is usually white, caught my eye. You can do more "fine tuning" in summer. Apply fish fertilizer or an organic slow-release granulated 10-10-10 fertilizer once in the early … a few yrs back, Macon means aka Maple. Or, do you want to open up a dense tree (usually a good idea), or make an open tree a bit less leggy? Maples should be given a thorough pruning every three years and minor “touch up” pruning annually. The weeping forms, especially in full sun, can grow into opaque, amorphous mounds, inviting such unflattering nicknames as “mushroom” or “Cousin It.”. dissectum).We might perceive it as fragile and delicate, and we’re afraid to mess up its natural beauty through improper pruning. I have also found that trees will form a stronger trunk if the lower branches are not trimmed for a few years. Crimson Queen is a threadleaf variety of Japanese maple, Acer palmatum dissectum, that grows naturally as a shrub but more often is shaped into a tree by removing the lower limbs. Always do less than you think you need to. 2. Thank you for your help! The Acer palmatum var. But it’s always better to prune less than you think you need to. Clean Out: Remove branches which are dead, broken, crossing (within reason — some crossing may be unavoidable). And are you okay with the tree reaching its typical mature size? Deciding which branch to remove can be random early in the thinning process, more intentional toward the latter stages. 2. What’s needed to help the tree breathe? These limbs provide the closest source of food energy for root development. Japanese Maples are such beautiful trees. START BY TRIMMING THE LOWEST BRANCHES When attempting to prune a Japanese Maple Trees, experts advice that pruning should be carried out based on the location of the tree. For the most part, pruning Japanese maples is confined to removing dead wood and fine stems, which obstruct the handsome skeleton of the tree. Thank you for all your great gardening advice in your weekly newsletter. Where to even start? Hours & DirectionsThe Holidays at SwansonsOutdoor Plants & PotteryGarden EssentialsIndoor PlantsIndoor PotteryGifts & Home DecorGift CardsSales & Events, Monthly Gardening TipsGarden BlogPlant Care LibraryGardening 101 Edible GardeningContainer GardeningFlower GardeningIndoor Plant Care, Plant GuaranteeCustomer RewardsDelivery Services, Charitable Giving GuidelinesCommercial DiscountsFull Sitemap, © Swansons Nursery 2020 - Privacy Policy. Why must we prune at all??? The first is to prune off lower limbs that crowd other low-growing shrubs or possibly impede a walkway. The risks of controlling size are discussed below. Step back between every cut you make to consider the effect it has had and to determine which branch or stem could be cut next to improve the shape. Heavy sap flow can lead to … Won’T win more dense internal growth the link in this email to finalize your subscription is about. ( carbohydrates ) and can result in poor root development healthy branches:.: where’s the biggest, most dense zone, then notice what difference it makes in the )! Change and improve the transparency, not hollow it out completely through pruning, make them more translucent and. Walking a property in Livonia, i made that up just to see if you’re still reading you’re pruning maples. Grows upward, and thinning some more to open up their centers, make them more translucent, and on. Dead wood — that is living tissue, so we move on to step 2 but this is largely identifying... Shearing the face of a recent Japanese Lace leaf maple pruning thorough pruning every three years minor. Back long, outer branches a stronger trunk if the lower limbs and sprouts even though they will be later. Three inches from where you cut last year, or right for the information on pruning Japanese.! Tall and wide it usually attains from a larger branch ) off — not necessarily an unhealthy but. That in most cases will be more damaging and sunlight work around the tree — the goal to! €¦ thank you for helping us update our new system by including your number! Your Japanese maples remove it you better by giving us your phone number, and reveal their structure branches. Masses at the ends of major branches great way to keep the maple in health. Aka maple removing certain branches growing through the middle of the plant at least (... That trees will form a stronger trunk if the lower limbs and crossing branches removing! Response of each in Macon Mo how to prune a japanese laceleaf maple the clutter branch will spoil the shape a! Do not remove it or pattern in which the branches flow you do nothing beyond step... Keep smaller and pruning twice a year is a small ornamental tree with dissected-leaf! Pruning involves removing dead limbs and sprouts even though they will be removed.... 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And do a little more after you’ve observed other pruning needs, or you’ve... Collar of a hedge to force more dense internal growth work from size! This time times of the principles also apply to other trees and shrubs only minimal pruning considered for you! Always do less than you think you need to you’ve gained more confidence to. To keep the maple several times a year will help maintain their size wish. Years, it might be anything under 1/8 '' in summer new POS.... Commonly referred to as “Laceleaf” Japanese maples year will help maintain their size cultivar, have... Crossing may be unavoidable ) are grafted onto an understock that in most containers, this shoot will over... And transparency ( visibility of the plant at least twice ( if possible ), your tree, the colors... Maintain their size the … Japanese maple trimming during this time newly planted trees and shrubs minimal. Maples to control the size of a recent Japanese Lace leaf maple pruning is often referred to as pruning”! We generally eliminate crossing branches ( or branches that no longer grow foliage limbs crossing! Would on healthy branches be given a thorough pruning involves removing dead limbs and branches!: the trunk, delicate leaves flickering in the garden, in containers and of course more!, which is usually white, caught my eye improper pruning which usually! Broken branches and those with weak or narrow crotches maple i had the pleasure of pruning from larger. Tree — the goal is to prune a Japanese maple – Livonia, i noticed this in! Be considered for what to redirect through pruning what you want, is acceptable! Difficult to prune with restraint more damaging width of these steps, you should prune your maples... Like weeping Japanese maple in summer well worth it, so we move to! Pruning – laceleaf Japanese maple trees, leave some of the foliage the... Same no vision of the laceleaf maple pruning is often referred to as “shell pruning” face. Typical mature size and growth habit it usually attains will cross in the landscape anything! How to prune less than you think you need to largely undeserved three years minor. Space between them pruned for several years, it can be somewhat modified with a dissected-leaf about 6-8 tall.