Slotted maple varieties have the reputation of not being able to withstand topiary very well. In fact, Acer palmatum is one of the most popular bonsai species in Japan because it is quite suitable for pruning. The professional approach is primarily based on one central aspect. This guide explains how to properly cut your slotted maple.

Slotted maple should be cut with great care

The best time is before budding

Slotted maple is not one of the native maple species and is correspondingly sensitive to interventions in its growth. By carefully choosing the date, you can effectively prevent problems after a pruning. How to do it right:

  • The best time is at the end of the leafless winter season
  • Swelling leaf buds signal the start of the growing season
  • The weather will be dry and frost-free without blazing sunshine

Instructions for the correct cutting guide

The warnings against pruning the slotted maple are based on the fact that it is difficult or impossible to drive out of old wood. Therefore, home gardeners grudgingly accept when the Asian tree grows sparsely and loses its compact shape. In fact, you can trim your Acer palmatum into shape as long as you follow these steps:

  • Use a freshly sharpened garden shears or pruning shears with disinfected blades
  • Pruning is limited to one-year-old wood
  • Cut back a maximum of one third of last year's growth
  • Set the scissors a few millimeters above a leaf node or sleeping eye

You will hardly ever think about cutting back on slow-growing varieties such as 'Mikawa yatsubusa' or 'Shaina' with 5 to 10 cm per year. These cultivars keep their compact growth and do not age. The popular red slotted maple 'Atropurpureum', on the other hand, grows up to 50 cm a year, which can lead to branches gesturing uncontrollably. In the case of fast-growing slotted maple breeds, do not be afraid to put the growth in its place with scissors.

tips

If your slotted maple suffers from serious frost damage, the self-healing powers of the plant are not sufficient for regeneration. If you cut frozen shoots back into the healthy wood in spring, your Japanese maple will usually recover. Healthy wood can be recognized as green tissue under the bark. You can identify deadwood by its gray and dry tissue.

Category:

Trees