How to Trim a Japanese Maple

The hand-shaped or lacy leaves of Japanese maples can add stunning fall color.

Japanese maple trees have layered branches with graceful curves that enhance garden landscapes. Trimming Japanese maples can accentuate your tree's natural form, whether you have an upright tree or a weeping one. Pruning also keeps the tree healthy by getting rid of diseased branches, as well as unsightly old branches that mar the delicate, lacy landscape effect of Japanese maples.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Loppers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Remove dead, broken and diseased twigs and branches with pruning shears.

2. Cut branches pointing in toward the middle of the tree or crossing over one another with loppers. Leave at least three-quarters of the foliage on each branch.

3. Trim back to a pair of buds on branches and twigs with pruning shears, cutting behind the buds to eliminate excess growth.

4. Prune off branches and twigs sticking outside the natural shape of the Japanese maple tree to achieve the form you want.

5. Cut branches hanging too low or touching the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean tools after cutting diseased limbs with rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth.

• Any branches removed shouldn't be bigger than half the diameter of the main stem of the tree.

• Don't remove more than one-fifth of the crown of the tree in a year.

• Be careful to avoid cutting into the branch collar on upright Japanese maple trees.

• Don't prune Japanese maple trees for two weeks in the spring when the leaves come out or two weeks in the fall when leaves are dropping off.

References

• University of California Cooperative Extension: Japanese Maple Trees
• Fine Gardening: Pruning Japanese Maples

Resources

• Floridata: Acer palmatum
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Japanese Maple