How to Trim a Japanese Lace Leaf Maple
Japanese lace leaf maples (Acer palmatum var. dissectum) are a dwarf variety that grow just 6 to 10 feet tall. The foliage has a delicate lacy quality leading to this tree's common name. Lace leaf maples prefer an area that provides some wind protection and affords partial shade. Yearly pruning is an important part of growing a healthy, visually pleasing Japanese maple, but incorrect pruning and bad timing does more damage than neglect. Proper pruning technique is an essential part of growing a healthy, attractive Japanese lace leaf maple tree. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Prune Japanese lace leaf maples in the fall or early winter after the tree has shed its leaves. Late summer pruning is acceptable but it is more difficult to see the shape of the tree.
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Step back and look at the whole tree to visualize the final result you desire from pruning. Imagine the total size, shape and effect you are trying to archive.
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Cut off any growth springing up from the base of the tree. Lace leaf Japanese maples produce multiple stems that you need to remove to keep a tree like shape.
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Take out any dead or broken wood. Use a tree saw for larger branches and pruning shears for smaller branches. Make the cuts about 1/4 to 1/2 inch above where the branch attaches to a larger, older branch.
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Take out branches that are growing straight up and down. Japanese maples look best when they have a laterally spreading shape.
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Remove branches that cross each other or that rub against another branch. Take out the weaker branch leaving the stronger branch.
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Tips & Warnings
Use sharp clean tools when pruning a lace leaf maple tree. Clean cuts heal quickly and are less traumatic for the tree than are jagged cuts.
Don't remove more than 30 percent of the canopy in a single year, as it will cause too much stress to the lace leaf maple.
References
Resources
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