2 days Ago By Katherine McPhillips
Japanese maple trees are known for their magnificent red foliage that can light up a garden , but they need to be pruned at the right time to grow properly. The gardening experts at Mr Maple have shared that the best time to prune these beautiful trees is in spring, as it helps them focus their energy on growing new buds rather than wasting it on decaying branches. They said: “Trimming your Japanese maple can actually make your tree grow faster.
If you trim the smaller branches back leaving larger and thicker branching with buds, your tree will often grow very quickly. This is because you get a cleaner flow or nutrients from Japanese maples that have been trimmed. It is like exercising your Japanese maples.
” Taking the time to prune Japanese maples will allow more sunlight to reach the plant so the whole tree grows at the same time, which helps keep it healthy. It encourages a strong framework and will ensure you have a healthier foliage that will look spectacular once it blossoms in its growing season Just be sure to prune Japanese maple trees when their leaves come out later on in spring, as it is very easy to accidentally cut off a branch that has buds on it if you do it too soon. Simply begin by cutting any branches that stick out awkwardly, are broken or look like they are decaying.
Branches that should be removed will be discoloured and will have no leaves growing on them. Try to focus on any twig-like smaller branches, as they can slow down the growth of a tree and tend to be more crowded, so cutting them will help more sunlight reach the inner branches. Trim back any tree branches that are crossing, touching, or are too close to each other, as it makes it more difficult for air to reach these branches, which can encourage mould or fungal diseases.
Make sure to cut back any ‘fishtails’, which are the middle branches stuck between two other branches, which will not be able to grow properly. The expert said: “When there are three small branches coming out of the terminal buds on the end of a branch, it is often good to trim out the middle branch. This gives room for the other two branches and allows them have more energy.
” If you spot any shoots growing from the base of the tree then remove them, as they are suckers which can sap the energy from a Japanese maple tree which will disrupt its growth. Be gentle when pruning and make sure not to cut too much away as it can stress out the tree. Avoid removing large parts of the tree as it can unbalance and damage it.
Once you are done cutting, make sure to clean up any fallen branches or twigs as decaying wood can encourage pests, diseases and fungal growth to come into your garden..
