We explain why you shouldn’t use a hedge trimmer or large sheers when pruning your Japanese maple. These trees require precision pruning to bring out the beauty of the trees. Keep in mind, this is the FIRST pruning. A Japanese maple with incredible branch movements may take several years for it to show its true potential. These trees are not one and done as you should prune them every year.
Here in the PNW, we see SO many mushroom maples. Most landscapers just use hedge trimmers and prune it into a rounded shape and call it good. The issue with mushroom maples is that it results in thousands of random cuts and creates a massive influx of backbuds at all the wrong places. This results in a very thick and full canopy on the outside and as a result, it blocks a ton of sunlight for the inside of the tree. This is why mushroom maples have SO many dead branches on the inside every single year. Eventually, you’ll end up with a maple that has very long and legge branches and only leaves on the outside; No layers or strong branch characteristics on the inside.
Use the right tools, have the proper patience, and in 5-10 years, your maple tree will become the ones you see all across Asia.
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Another fun pruning video, and another nice tree for the birds to fly into. Really enjoying the viewer submissions and hoping this community of pruners grows! Late last summer I dug out a bunch of baby maples that were growing beneath my larger Japanese maple and I potted them up and I’m hoping to eventually try my hand at bonsai with them. If that doesn’t work out then I’ll just put them around my yard and I’ll have more garden trees I can prune. 😃
when i lived in the states my mom and dad had the most beautiful maple ive ever seen. their love for plants and each other was as beautiful as the maple
Love this! I’m still slowly working on my tree. I will be sending photos to you when I’m done. If you get the chance could you film some time lapse from the interior of the tree please? Thank you for sharing so much!!
Roughly, how long does something like this take from start to finish?
What season are you pruning?
I am in the process of doing this with an old golden euonymus in my garden. It's been sheared into a ball for years and I'm trying to get back to a more interesting structure. Not as beautiful as a Japanese maple for sure and the thing should probably just come out, but I can't stand to do that. Wish me luck!
I think most people don't realize the work some plants take. But what a difference !!!
I almost sheered my maple today, but then I watched this video and decided against it.
Great video! 🌿 Very clear explanation of maple pruning techniques. The before and after transformation was amazing, and the “one, two, three” method was really helpful. Learned a lot from this—thank you!
Can you prune that hard in the uk ? Our weather is not as nice as yours , thank you
I thought you prune maples in winter ?
I've been watching your videos for about 2 years. The house I moved to has a MONSTER of a maple. I had no idea what to do with it, but now it looks great!
Beautiful work – looks amazing!
I prune & shape Japanese maples as part of my gardening service and today was thinning out a small upright that had got overgrown and dense. When nearly done, 2 hummingbirds in chase zoomed in and out of the branches around me!! It was amazing and wouldn't have been possible prior to the work. I give thanks to all the knowledge you 2 generously share with your audience.
I just placed order for those pruners! Loved this video.
I purchased the pruners and rake today, now time to work on my maple!
Was your pruning process primarily done by only taking the middle branch?
I enjoyed your video, Eatonville WA here!
I been watching your udeos because I want to put some maples in my yard but I notice you only say Japanese maple, when I search I find multiple Japanese species without a lot of grown examples, I see many in buckets but the one in this video is the size I would like.
For me, not a good video. I understand removing the dead branches inside the tree, but cutting the surrounding the branches from the outside. I’m confused.
Great job
Hi, thank you for the education. How do you keep your Barnel B777's sharp? Your pruning outcome was beautiful, it's an art to get it right. I'm going to watch all of them in order to take better care of my old JM's. Do you prune weeping cherry trees? Mine looks like Cousin It after it the leaves fill it late spring. thanks 🙂
Excellent pruning advice, choosing proper tools ensures healthier, more beautiful Japanese maples! 🍁✂
Do you have to be concerned about lion tailing the tree when you’re pruning it like that?