If a tree cut is part of the care program, almost all maple species show their squeamish side. However, you don't have to put up with unbridled growth and wildly gesticulating branches. This guide explains when and how to skillfully prune a maple.

Maple trees should not be pruned during growth

The best time to cut is in the fall

On most maple species, growth is characterized by a strong flow of sap, which only decreases for a short time in autumn. If you prune the tree in the middle of the growing season, the sap will flow freely. In order to prevent bleeding, the choice of date for the pruning primarily takes this special property of maple trees into account. These criteria characterize the best time:

  • Mild, dry weather in autumn
  • No blazing sun, no rain and no frost

In order to prune a maple without heavy sap flow, the measure should be completed by mid/late January at the latest. The sap pressure increases in late winter on species and varieties that sprout early.

Two exceptions to the appointment rule

Of course, the timetable for pruning the trees is not fixed in the autumn. Robust field maple (Acer campestre) and Asian slotted maple (Acer palmatum) are two exceptions to the rule. To ensure that the field maple retains its well-groomed appearance as a fast-growing hedge, you can cut back shoots that are too long in autumn, in early spring and again in June. Ideally, you should blend the picturesque varieties of slotted maple in spring, just before the leaves sprout.

Preparatory work - you should pay attention to this

The sword of Damocles of fungal infections dangles over every pruning on the maple tree. Please do not trim the tree or shrub until you have cleaned and disinfected the cutting tool with alcohol. Before doing so, sharpen the blades with a whetstone so that the cuts do not fray and attract pathogens.

Also protect your skin and clothing from the sticky plant sap. Even in the midst of dormancy, the syrupy liquid oozes out of the bark in small amounts if you prune the branches.

Cutting leaves old wood untouched - this is how it works

The prudent choice of date in autumn and the recommended preparations are the perfect start for the professional pruning. If you follow these instructions for the cutting guide, you have done everything right:

  • Only cut back branches that are too long in the area of the one-year-old wood
  • Make an incision a few millimeters above a leaf node or dormant eye
  • Cut slightly at an angle so that rainwater and plant sap can run off

It is characteristic of maple that the tree or shrub from old wood does not sprout again or is hesitant. Therefore, limit pruning to the area that has grown over the past year. You should cut back dead wood down to a string and leave no stubs. The small bead (astring) between the branch and trunk must not be damaged.

Thin out thick maple branches - this is how you do it right

If you want to remove a thick branch from the old, large maple tree, the measure requires an alternative cut. This is how it works in 3 steps:

  • At a distance of 30-50 cm from the trunk, saw the branch from below to the middle
  • Now move the saw outwards by 10 cm and saw from above until the branch breaks off
  • In the third step, cut back the remaining branch until just before the branch ring

Finally, smooth the cut with a sharp, disinfected knife.

When is tree pruning mandatory?

A maple unfolds its well-formed crown without regular pruning. In view of the low pruning tolerance, you should only prune trees and shrubs of this genus if necessary. In three cases, however, it is essential that you cut back a maple:

  • After planting bare root crops, prune all shoots by a quarter to a third
  • After transplanting, compensate for the lost root mass by pruning proportionally
  • Prune diseased shoots down to healthy wood

Wound closure - yes or no?

Thanks to modern research results, wound closure after a tree pruning has come under criticism. Extensive field research by tree surgeons has shown that an airtight seal on cuts does more harm than good. The injured tissue does not heal like human skin. Rather, a layer of callus overgrows the wound and encapsulates the injured wood. Fresh wood, called the cambium, then forms over this partition.

Sealing with tree wax (€12.96) would only disrupt the natural healing process. Larger cuts should only be treated after a tree pruning in autumn in order to protect the valuable callus tissue from frost. For this purpose, spread the edges of the wound with tree wax or Lac Balsam.

tips

Pruning maple trees isn't just about the branches and crown. Sometimes a root cut comes into focus because there is no gap on the tree grate for a nice underplanting. There is nothing wrong with pruning interfering roots on a well-established maple, as long as you remove no more than a third of the strands.

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Trees