The Best Time of Year to Prune Maple Trees

Maples provide beautiful fall foliage.

Maples are long-lived trees suitable for rural areas and suburban landscapes. They vary in size and form. Gardeners should select varieties that will fit in their landscape and maintain them through annual pruning. Gardeners should avoid invasive species, such as the Norway maple, according to the Maple Info website.

Time Frame

Gardeners should prune most deciduous trees, including maples, in late winter before new growth emerges. Trees pruned at this time suffer less damage from diseases and insects and tend to heal faster, according to Colorado State University Extension.

Bleeding

Maple trees "bleed" sap when they are pruned. Some researchers believe this bleeding delays healing. Other researchers believe it is beneficial, preventing organisms from entering wound sites. Trees bleed less in the fall, so theoretically gardeners could prune then instead. Colorado State University Extension recommends late winter, in spite of increased bleeding.

Special Circumstances

Maples may develop broken branches after heavy snow storms. Branches may also become diseased or die. Gardeners should prune these branches to prevent further damage anytime of the year.

References

• Colorado State University Extension: When to Prune Trees
• West Virginia Gardening: When to Prune Deciduous Trees
• Maple Info: Urban Maples Training Young Trees

Resources

• North Dakota State University Extension: Hortiscope Questions on Red Maples