Japanese Maples: Gardener shares tips on caring for plant
While some Japanese maple varieties offer year-round interest with their delicate shapes and varied leaf colours in spring and summer, it’s in autumn when their foliage truly shines. They turn into stunning shades of intense red, vibrant orange, and yellow, creating a spectacular display of colour. However, Japanese maples, also known as Acers, demand meticulous care to avoid spindly growth, particularly during their early years, and thrive considerably from appropriate upkeep.
The horticultural specialists at Jacksons Nurseries stress that trimming is “key” to maintaining a thriving Acer plant and represents a foolproof method to “restore or enhance their natural beauty.” They maintain: “Choosing the right time to prune is key—Japanese maples will bleed sap if pruning is done any later than the end of December.”
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Maple trees show spectacular colours in autumn (Image: shin hyun via Getty Images)
As for exactly when to prune, the Royal Horticultural Society instructs gardeners with larger maples to prune them when they are “fully dormant”.
For most trees, this is between November and January, or in late summer (August-October).
Pruning outside the dormant season could 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.”
Acer’s can look brittle and leggy if neglected and left unpruned (Image: Getty)
They included a vital suggestion for those with fragile 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.”
The specialists stressed the significance of employing proper equipment for typical acers in decent condition. As with all ornamental trees, effective results always start with sharp, clean tools.
How to prune a Japanese maple tree
Secateurs are typically sufficient, although a keyhole saw proves handy for thicker branches.
The leaves of the Japanese maple: Acer palmatum ‘Ōsakazuki’ show beautiful Autumn colour. (Image: Pauline Lewis via Getty Images)
Prior to making structural modifications, eliminate dead, diseased, and damaged branches from the tree.
The specialists at Jackson Nurseries suggested proceeding cautiously to avoid accidentally cutting into a neighbouring branch, particularly with younger trees.
They cautioned enthusiastic 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 treating the upper layer of branches, it’s crucial to examine the lower limbs, removing those that obstruct surrounding plants or pathways.
“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”, advised the gardening specialists.
They highlighted the significance of patience, stressing: “If in doubt, don’t cut”.
A keyhole saw is best for accurate cuts on weeping Japanese maple trees. It’s more gentle on the delicate bark and less prone to damaging the tree.
Thick branches that lack tapering or branching along their length might not look pleasing to the eye; removing such branches may be considered to maintain the tree’s visual appeal.