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Acer pruning advice please

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Indeed @punkdoc. Always a bad move.  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'm going to do it in February, I think. Unless we have a really cold january.
    I was going to cut some of the branches that are quite close to the ground. Do I cut them flush with the main trunks?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Acers can bleed copiously, but it has never adversely affected mine.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Pretty much flush with the trunks should be fine @B3.  :)
    You can leave a tiny 'shoulder' to avoid catching the main trunk. If the branch is heavy, it's worth cutting it off half way or so, to take the bulk of the weight from it, before cutting back further. Just avoids any tearing if the weight is too much for it before you cut through completely. 

    You might find this link useful too
    https://www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk/how-to-prune-japanese-maple-tree.html

    I think they mention somewhere about leaving that little edge, but it's along time since I've read it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thanks @Fairygirl. There's not going to be anything particularly heavy. All less than 2" diameter. Will have a look at link. Thanks.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Well, I  managed to keep a reasonable shape I think but perhaps I  should have taken off more. I worked on the youcantstickitbackon  principle and I was afraid to use a saw 🥺


    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just shows the difference in temps/climate etc. That's already well in leaf @B3!
    I think that was the sensible thing to do. As you say - you can't stick it back on, and you can always take a bit more off at the end of this year anyway if you feel it's needed. 
    Less stress on the plant too, and less stress for you    ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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