How to Prune an Upright Japanese Maple

Upright Japanese maples are beautiful and elegant in all seasons with their elegant leaves and beautiful fall foliage they rival any tree in the landscape. Upright Japanese maples typically grow larger than their little brothers, the weeping Japanese Maple. Sometimes these upright Japanese maples get a little too large or get unsightly and need pruning. Here are some tips on how to properly prune an upright Japanese Maple

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Upright Japanese Maple
• Pruning shears
• Pruning loppers

1. 
    
   AJapanese Maple in the winter

   If you prune properly almost any time is the right time to prune an upright Japanese Maple. Some experts suggest that winter time is the best time to prune a Japanese Maple yet some experts suggest that the summer time is the best time to prune Japanese Maple. In the wintertime is much easier because you can see branches much more clearly because the leaves are of the way and this makes it easier to prune. Summertime pruning has its advantages as well, it is easier to judge how much to thin out of your Japanese Maple with the foliage on. However it is a good idea never to prune a Japanese Maple when the temperature is 80 degrees or more. Also it is a good idea to remove more than 1/5 of an upright Japanese maple's branches.

2. 
    
   Properly Pruned Upright Japanese Maple

   The secret to making Japanese maples look good is to prune the branches so that they are in overlapping layers that never touch each other. If there are any branches that cross over each other or if any branches grow straight up or down off of a lateral branch prune them out. You want to give your upright Japanese Maple a fan shaped look.

3. 
    
   A correct cut

   I'm pruning an upright Japanese Maple you want to make proper cuts. A proper pruning job will leave a clean cut that is just outside the branch collar. Do not cut into the collar as this will cause rot, do not prune too far out and leave an ugly stub sticking out of the collar. Follow these simple pruning steps and you will have a gorgeous upright Japanese Maple. If you would like to buy Japanese maples from the author, go to the link below.

Tips & Warnings

• Add me as a friend
• Never prune the temperatures above 80.
• Make sure your pruning tools are sharp.

Resources

• Buy Japanese Maples From The Author
• How to Prune a Weeping Japanese Maple
• How to Grow Red Dragon Japanese Maple

[dorigillman]

on 5/29/2009 thanks for the tips.