I've an acer tree which I planted a couple of years ago and at the moment it appears to be growing vertically. What over winter pruning, if any, would you suggest to encourage the tree to spread and form a canopy?
You need to cut off the top bit to make it grow outwards , a bit like pinching out a plant to make it bushier if you get what I mean . Don’t cut it too much just a few inches is enough . Don’t do it yet but . Do it in the early springtime .
Different acers have different growing habits. Some are naturally upright rather than wide spreading. You can try light pruning but it may not give you the results you want. Acers don’t tend to need much pruning but find their own lovely shapes so it may be best to leave it alone and see what develops.
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