Content
- Japanese maple - cutting is always risk
- Pruning can cause damage
- Perform necessary cutting measures in spring
- Protective measures for pruning
- Tips
The Japanese Maple tends to bleed heavily and should therefore be cut as little as possible
Japanese maple - cutting is always risk
The Japanese Maple is a popular, comparatively small ornamental tree for the home garden or even for the Kübelhaltung on the balcony and terrace. Pruning the beautiful deciduous tree only if it is really essential - the well-known as Japanese fan maple (Acer palmatum), rather shrubby worm-like tree tolerates pruning usually poorly.
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Assuming that the Japanese maple stands in a good spot and feels comfortable there, the deciduous tree is comparatively easy to maintain: it only needs to be watered during hot and dry summer periods, it is rarely fertilized and, moreover, it should not be pruned. Not only is pruning unnecessary, but in the worst case it can even kill the whole tree. In particular, the small species tend after such a measure to become infected with mildew or other fungal diseases. Fortunately, however, the Japanese Maple naturally grows fairly evenly and slowly.
Perform necessary cutting measures in spring
However, pruning may sometimes be necessary, for example to remove dried-up, winter-frozen or infested shoots, twigs and branches.Dead and sick parts of the tree should be cut back in the spring or in the early autumn, cutting measures in the late autumn or winter should better be avoided. Trimmed trees in winter are often very susceptible to fungal infections. When cutting, be careful not to cut them into live wood, and do not cut the twigs and branches directly and smoothly from the trunk.
Protective measures for pruning
Following certain protective measures will help you and your Japanese Maple to survive any cutting work safely and without damage. The first rule is hygiene, d. H. All tools used are sharp and clean. At best, disinfect scissors and knives before and after treatment in order to break any possible infection pathways and prevent the introduction of pathogens into the tree. You should also note the following:
Tips
A drastic pruning can sometimes rescue the Japanese Maple in case of infection with the dreaded Verticillium wilt. This disease is caused by fungi found in the soil and quickly kills whole branches and shoots, often the whole tree.