Pruning Japanese maples at the ‘best time’ is ‘essential’ to make them ‘more beautiful’

Pruning Japanese maples at the ‘best time’ is ‘essential’ to make them ‘more beautiful’ (Image: Getty)

Pruning is one of the most important gardening tasks that are required when caring for Japanese maples.

However, gardeners are often left confused about their care when pruning as you can “destroy their beautiful shape and foliage” by pruning incorrectly, warned gardening guru Jessica Walliser of Savvy Gardening.

By understanding when and how to prune Japanese maple trees, you’ll make them “more beautiful and maintain their health and form”.

Gardeners should feel at ease that to properly prune a Japanese maple, you don’t have to know what variety you have. No matter what kind of Japanese maple it is, the pruning needs, technique, and timing are the same, claimed the expert.

Jessica said that to maintain the health of the tree, “properly timed trimming is essential” and has shared some “easy-to-follow” guidelines for when to prune Japanese maple trees.

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Pruning is essential for Japanese maples (Image: Getty)

She noted: “The best time of year to prune any living wood is late autumn to mid-winter (November through to January). I don’t prune my Japanese maple any time after January.”

Unlike most other deciduous trees that are best pruned anytime during dormancy, maples should not be pruned in late winter.

Explaining the reason for this, Jessica said: “If pruning occurs in late winter, the wounds weep sap. 

Japanese maples should never be pruned in winter (Image: Getty)

“While this won’t kill the tree, it can potentially bring attention from insects and the pruning wounds can stay open longer, increasing the risk of pathogen exposure.”

Spring and summer pruning should also be avoided for Japanese maples for the same reason.

To prune Japanese maples, begin by removing any dead wood - the tree’s underside is where much of the dead wood is often found.

Removing any deadwood. Be sure to check the tree’s underside. That’s where much of the deadwood is often found.

When there is new growth on your Japanese maple that does not match the rest of its growth, it should be pruned off to maintain the tree’s unique form

Some Japanese maples have side branches that extend far out from the trunk which should only be removed “unless it is absolutely necessary”, urged the expert as they are “much better off growing to their natural form”.