The Japanese maple is a popular, comparatively small ornamental tree for the home garden or even for keeping in containers on the balcony and terrace. Only prune the striking deciduous tree if it is absolutely necessary - the tree, also known as the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), grows more like a shrub and usually does not tolerate pruning well.
The Japanese maple tends to bleed profusely and should therefore be pruned as little as possible
Pruning can cause damage
Provided that the Japanese maple is in the right location and feels comfortable there, the Far Eastern deciduous tree is comparatively easy to care for: it only needs to be watered in hot and dry summer periods, rarely fertilized and also not pruned. A pruning is not only superfluous, but in the worst case can even cause the entire tree to die. In particular, species that remain small tend to become infected with powdery mildew or other fungal diseases after such a measure. Fortunately, however, the Japanese maple grows quite evenly and slowly by nature.
Carry out necessary pruning measures in spring
Sometimes, however, pruning is unavoidable, for example to remove dried shoots, twigs and branches that have frozen to death in winter or have become infected. Dead and diseased parts of the tree should be pruned back in spring or early autumn, while pruning in late autumn or even winter should be avoided. Trees pruned in winter are often very susceptible to fungal infections. When cutting, be careful not to cut into the living wood, and do not cut the twigs and branches directly and cleanly off the trunk.
Pruning precautions
Adhering to certain protective measures will help you and your Japanese maple to survive any pruning measures healthy and without damage. The top rule is hygiene, i. H. all tools used must be kept sharp and clean. It is best to disinfect scissors and knives before and after treatment in order to interrupt possible infection routes and prevent pathogens from being introduced into the tree. You should also note the following:
- Cutting tools should always be sharp to avoid bruising.
- Larger cut surfaces should be treated with tree wax (12.96€),
- this prevents bleeding of the tree.
- Avoid damaging the branch collar.
- No pruning in fall or winter.
tips
A drastic pruning can sometimes save the Japanese maple in the event of an infection with the dreaded Verticillium wilt. This disease is caused by fungi in the soil and quickly kills entire branches and shoots, often the entire tree.