Cut them back as close to the trunk as you possibly can. However, if you want to create an airy look, thin out branches over time; to create a canopy, remove lower limbs. Both low-energy times last about 2 weeks. Keep California Green with the Best Grass for SoCal, Best Expandable Garden Hose Reviews [year], The Best Drought Resistant Grass for Dryer Climates, The Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers On the Market, Contrast or complement foliage color and texture, Similar cultural requirements (e.g., soil type, light, and water), Bloom times that align with Japanese maples seasonal interest. You can prune Japanese maple in the late fall, early winter, or late winter. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. One of the best ways to keep a Japanese maple healthy is through pruning. The Lacleafs have a weeping form with lacy-looking leaves, while the uprights have more solid leaves and grow to point upwards without tilts. Pruning Japanese maples is rarely necessary in mature trees, if they have been trained when young. These knuckles will defeat the whole purpose of aesthetic Pruning, as the central aesthetic concept of coarse to fine will no longer be applicable. The fourth and final step is to give the branches an even thinning. Cold stratification may sound like a complicated thing but. Pruning in the winter, and experts consider the summer seasons as the best times. Simply cut away the dead branches down to a point where the tissue under the bark is nice and healthy. Your email address will not be published. Japanese maple bonsai require regular fertilizing to encourage strong and consistent new growth. Japanese maple trees like moist, well-drained soil and compost-enriched soil. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. The summer, however, permits more accurate measurement of the brand that needs thinning. Follow these guidelines for pruning a Japanese maple: If you have a tree that was grafted onto rootstock, it's important that you remove any suckers, which will take over the plant if you leave them on. Prune it to establish its shape or to maintain a shape. Step 3: Thin out the interior of the tree Reduce the number of branches in the interior of the tree for better airflow. In an era where global warming has reached alarming proportions,. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Prune-Japanese-Maple-Trees-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Japanese-Maple-Trees-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Prune-Japanese-Maple-Trees-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid2334080-v4-728px-Prune-Japanese-Maple-Trees-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"