To piggyback on this thread so that I don't make a pruning mistake...my little Acer is only about 3 ft. high with maybe four or five branches, but the top of the leader looks dead. It's grey for about a 2" span and it has two small branches off of it. Can that be pruned, or will it damage the tree?
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
Acers tend to "shed" branches naturally. If it's grey / taupe colour it's probably dead and can be cut off without further damage. To be really sure, try to scratch the bark if it's dull brown underneath it definitely dead, if green underneath it's still alive. This applies to any woody plant.
Hi again @mariangelabrunaSPIMwB5U, I have looked up A. Palmatum Pixie, in my reference book. It is described as an offshoot from Bloodgood with deep cut lobes on leaves. It is a dwarf type and should not grow to more than 2m tall, but may grow quite vigorously when young but slows down as it matures to form a dense, round shaped tree. Ideal for the smaller garden . Now of course plants don't read the books so those dimensions may not be exact, but hopefully it will slow down now and can be restored to a good shape by careful attention. As me and others have said don't take too much off at a time and you should gradually get to what you want.
Good, you can shape it some more in summer if any parts look a bit wayward. Remember late summer pruning restricts growth. As I explained before it may take several seasons to get it how you want it. Slow and steady wins the race.
and 'the first cut is the deepest' Hey - that would be a good title for a song....
Indeed @Allotment Boy- it's always better to play the long game until you have enough confidence to push a bit harder. You'll be fine @mariangelabrunaSPIMwB5U. Good job so far
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Brilliant song I expect you know who wrote it too. Superb. There's been some very good covers of it though. Rod's is brilliant. Back when he was great....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
To be really sure, try to scratch the bark if it's dull brown underneath it definitely dead, if green underneath it's still alive. This applies to any woody plant.
I have looked up A. Palmatum Pixie, in my reference book. It is described as an offshoot from Bloodgood with deep cut lobes on leaves. It is a dwarf type and should not grow to more than 2m tall, but may grow quite vigorously when young but slows down as it matures to form a dense, round shaped tree. Ideal for the smaller garden .
Now of course plants don't read the books so those dimensions may not be exact, but hopefully it will slow down now and can be restored to a good shape by careful attention. As me and others have said don't take too much off at a time and you should gradually get to what you want.
Hey - that would be a good title for a song....
Indeed @Allotment Boy- it's always better to play the long game until you have enough confidence to push a bit harder.
You'll be fine @mariangelabrunaSPIMwB5U. Good job so far
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I expect you know who wrote it too. Superb. There's been some very good covers of it though. Rod's is brilliant. Back when he was great....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border