How To Prune a Japanese Maple Tree (Encourage Tree Growth!)

[@JohnandBobs]

What is your favorite plant in your garden and why? How does it improve your life? 🌿 Leave your answer in the comments and you could win a FREE bag of J&B's Blend!

[@brendahansen5982]

Miss Huff Lantana which is a perennial here in 7b. I love it because it attracts so many bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. I absolutely love watching humming birds. I have several feeders around the yard as well. I also like this plant because it can be trimmed totally back to a few inches and it comes back bigger next year. I have grown them for about 10 years or so now and I have propagate them to give to friends. I currently have 8 but I have a few more that will be planted from their propagation pots this spring,

[@JohnandBobs]

If I was able to turn into a bird I would pick a humming bird! Stunning flower color & sharable with friends - an excellent plant indeed 💚 Thank you for sharing :)

[@JohnandBobs]

CONGRATULATIONS!! 🎉 You are the winner of a FREE bag of J&B's Blend! Please send us an email at [e-mail] to claim your prize :)

[@linda9405]

Best teaching video,easily understood and demonstrated well .Thank you

[@JohnandBobs]

Thank you very much, this is why we do it! 🌱

[@canadian-gardening-6A]

My favourites during the winter months are: Colorado Blue Spruce and White Paper Birch. Spring and Summer: Japanese Maples. Welcome back Chip! :)

[@JohnandBobs]

Those two together have such a perfect color pallet - that silver blue/green of the spruce is 😍 Chip says thank you! He is very glad to be back 🐶

[@nancyortiz1722]

I have a native malva tree that I have used to cover most of my 2 acres of sand. Seedlings abound, horses and chickens love to eat them, and I can easily trim/cut down/transplant. They are easy to chip, so along with their leaves, the plants are making my sand pile nutrient-rich and fertile.

[@JohnandBobs]

What a beautiful little ecosystem....and it's improving your soil!? Thank you malva tree! 💚🙌

[@kfairy8138]

I do love all of our plants but my favorites are our Japanese Maples. We have seven and each is different. The leaves come in at slightly different times with different colors. They are so breathtaking, They are artforms of nature.

[@JohnandBobs]

Agreed! Nature is the best artist I've ever met 💚😍Thanks so much for sharing :)

[@2525Hudson]

Thank you for the instructions, i am in the UK and inherited an Acer from the previous owners, 6 years ago it was an ok size, but now it has just gone too big, i am watching all manner of videos to get an idea on how to make it smaller but still keep its shape, which is really nice.

[@tellwinn1]

Love this explanation of trimming back to the source and box cut. I've been a culprit and now no more. Thank you!

[@JohnandBobs]

That's great, we're glad to be helpful. 🌱

[@Xt4209]

I bent over a 3 year lace leaf apon arrival in the mail and it immediately popped new shoots everywhere I loved it so much I bought like 6 more varieties none responded as well

[@alchemydp]

Thanks for this. We just moved to a house with a Japanese maple. My instincts were pretty good but you’ve given me clarity for taking care of this beauty. I appreciate you,

[@JohnandBobs]

And we appreciate our viewers/subscribers. Thank you for your kind comment! 🌱

[@bubblesmckenzie4125]

I love coneflowers they bring butterflies, bees and in the fall yellow finches for the seeds

[@JohnandBobs]

We love a garden full of all types of life 💚

[@Checkthefineprint]

It would be one of my conifers. Always green, cool structure. Neat and tidy usually.

[@JohnandBobs]

Fall time is magical, but its hard to beat our evergreen friends 💚🌲 Thanks for sharing! :)

[@Jane-West]

I love the conifers as well!

[@johnmfroehlich2915]

I have a very small yard with my now down-sized home, so i don't have room for many landscaping plants. But I discovered Vinca minor (otherwise known as "periwinkle") and I love it! It's a wonderful, low-growing, small-leaved, glossy-green ground-cover. It is an evergreen all winter, and it blooms beautifully in the spring -- with delicate purple-blue blossoms that always draw my neighbors' admiring remarks. It also saves me big bucks, because I don't need to buy and spread as much mulch. Vinca minor is not invasive and can easily be trimmed. (Whatever you do, avoid Vinca Major! That one is terribly invasive -- unless you are confining it to a pot as a draping plant. And although the major can be an attractive light-green-and-white vine in the warm months, it turns brown and ugly in cold winters.) I was widowed last year, and we recently planted the Vinca minor around our family gravestone. Because of their mowing needs, the cemetery management forbids flower and shrub planting. But because Vinca minor can be mowed right along with the grass, it creates no problems. And it puts out sweet blossoms even when kept quite short.

[@Silverdoor7]

I have a silver birch on my property that must be getting close to it's fullest height. I view it from my living room as I relax on my couch. It's a haven for birds, it's the truest keeper of change from one season to the next, it shelters the house from the coldest winds, violets and bluebells carpet the ground below. I love it with all my heart. Interestingly, my surname means "who dwells in a birch wood", so maybe some ancient affinity is at work....?

[@Jane-West]

I have several as well!Truly beautiful trees!

[@Jane-West]

I have several as well!Truly beautiful trees!

[@tonyavillalobos5731]

Amazing tutorial! Thank you!

[@JohnandBobs]

We are so glad to be helpful to you!

[@bubblesmckenzie4125]

Beautiful trimming job. 🙄👍

[@JohnandBobs]

Thanks 👍

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

I really need your expertise, thanks again, great video 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤

[@JohnandBobs]

Thank you for you kind comment 🌱 we are glad to be of use!

[@Jane-West]

So much great info based on true experience and love of the plant! Thank you for sharing!

[@hybug2430]

My favorite plant is dawn redwood I have four so far. They add so much beauty and all my neighbors keep asking about them. They grow pretty fast. I just ordered blend and excited to see what it will do this spring. I just found your site and hav a struggling Cherokee dog wood… hopefully your product helps.

[@JohnandBobs]

Very majestic & beautiful trees! I see why your neighbors are envious 😋 Woo!! Welcome to the J&B family - let us know how your plants do this spring with Blend 💚🌱🌷

[@JohnandBobs]

Watch our video about reviving this struggling dogwood! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqWXpZ6Kd7J3q5I And here is the follow up video, too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5m6aKagoLqklbM

[@martyjopuglisi1453]

Thank you 😊

[@MelindaNykamp]

Thank you so much!

[@JohnandBobs]

It's our pleasure!

[@SucculentFever]

Good video. Thank you for sharing your experience! I recently got bloodgood japanese maple and trying to learn more about these. I am 1 hour away from Fresno CA

[@JohnandBobs]

You got this! 🙌💚 Feel free to email us if you have any issues arise with your Japanese maple, we'd be happy to help :) [e-mail]

[@arebollar4]

Good video, thanks for the information.

[@JohnandBobs]

It’s our pleasure! 🌱

[@helenemontpetit4494]

Great video! Now, I live in Montreal, Quebec and I have a Japanese tree in my yard. Here we are in zone 5, so my question here is: when should I do the pruning? Beginning of spring or beginning of fall? Thank you By the way I absolutely love your garden!

[@JohnandBobs]

Thank you very much. My preference is beginning of Spring in your zone. -John

[@helenemontpetit4494]

@@JohnandBobs thank you so much! Is this case I will take your advice. 😊

[@christinebeames2311]

Thank you

[@ZumbaB1G]

I pruned our 18 year old Lace leaf Japanese maple really hard. It was so thick with overgrowth and had so many dead, crossing and downward branches. I'm pretty sure I trimmed away half of the tree. I'm so nervous that I've killed it. This was 2 days ago. Already the leaves are showing signs of freak out mode: curling up and looking dry. My husband has sheared this with a chain saw in the past which always horrified me. So I wanted to do it properly. Do you think it's doomed? Btw it does look so much better. You can see it's form.

[@JohnandBobs]

Hi there! If it gets quite a bit of sun, Summer pruning can be problematic for Japanese Maples because the former bushy growth acts as a sun protector. Try to do pruning during dormancy or very early Spring or Fall. My inclination is, since it's mature and established, after a period acclimation/recovery it will bounce back with healthy new growth. Cheers! - J&B's

[@JPFreshProg]

I am looking to purchase a young Japanese Maple at a local nursery. It is now in a draping-dome shape at approx. 30" in diameter x 30" height in a 2 gal plant bucket. 1. Can I put it about 24" from the house? 2. If so, can I keep it to primarily to a 30-45" height as a shrub-look using your methods by pruning back in the winter at the bud spots? Thanks!

[@NorthJerseyFooter]

I have a newly planted small Japanese maple (last fall in NJ). Only about 80% of the leaves bloomed. The other branches look dead. Any advice? They dead branches are in the rear of the bush, opposite the sun rise.

[@kathykaura7219]

Can I grow my Bloodgood JM indoors next to a sliding glass door? Outside are pine trees shading my front yard. I'm in HZ 5a.

[@JohnandBobs]

Yes, it is technically feasible, but I don't recommend it because it is difficult.

[@kimberleedenevi1207]

How would you trim a coral bark maple to keep at a certain height? I’d like to keep at gutter level.

[@sethadams5034]

What is the best method to reduce overall height and encourage bushing on an established Japanese maple? I have one which is going taller than my porch so thinning doesn't seem to be the best solution any longer. A majority of the tall branches make up nearly the entire crown so I've been reluctant to do anything, but now I need to reduce its total height by nearly 30%.

[@JohnandBobs]

The best way to reduce the size of your Japanese Maple is with "Drop Crotch Cuts". An inelegant name, but an effective technique for your purpose. There are some good videos online showing the proper way to use Drop Crotch Pruning. - John

[@sethadams5034]

That's perfect and exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[@JohnandBobs]

@@sethadams5034 Great! Glad to be of use!

[@ridzz10]

I'm quite new to gardening. I've become obsessed with maples. I have ones that can potentially grow over 4 metres high, which is far too big for my garden. Is it possible to keep pruning to keep it around 5 foot or will it eventually be top difficult to keep them small?

[@JohnandBobs]

Yes, pruning regularly can help to keep the size of the tree contained. You could also try planting them in a large container or pot which will help to restrict the growth of the tree some.

[@fary5994]

I saved a young Japanese maple tree today that a home owner who didn't want it. They pruned it on one side completely and have spoiled the natural shape of the tree. What can I do to help the tree branch out on that side? Thanks

[@JohnandBobs]

Thin the remaining branches properly as per our video and then make your soil and the tree as healthy as possible. I prefer to use our "Blend" and our Penetrate Liquid Biotiller to feed the soil and the tree at the same time. -John

[@gamutband]

Is it ok to use a tree saw for branches that are too big for pruning shears?

[@JohnandBobs]

Yes, absolutely ok. Best to make 2 saw cuts. One out in front of the final cut so the branch weight doesn't cause epidermal tearing of the trunk. Then a second cut of the remaining stub.

[@AL-ru3nk]

Hi last year I bought a japanese maple from a landscaper who was going to get rid of it. It was quite tall but very sparse with lots of leaves. We planted it in the ground at a time that was not great but so far its ok. I never cut it back at all cause i was told not to. Over the summer it got very hot here and all the leaves were burned. There are some really tall branches with a lot of smaller branches on it and what looks like little short dead branches all over the top of it. Should I cut it right back and if so can you tell me how much i should cut it back. Its autumn here now.

[@JohnandBobs]

Associating the phrase "cut it back" with Japanese Maples makes me nervous. As per our video, there is no "cutting back"only thinning and some "drop crotching" as needed. Watch our video again, we are always removing entire branches back to their source/beginning - never cutting branches in half. You can prune and shape aggressively as long as you are thinning and not heading back. -John

[@AL-ru3nk]

@@JohnandBobs Ive only ever known it as 'cutting back'. Maybe its a aussie thing. So is it ok to thin it out now in Autumn or do I wait until winter

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

I have a Japanese maple tree, that is struggling. It's only been with me for 4mònths. I want to take it out of the ground, and put it in a pot. But I think I will have to prune it first

[@mjennifersantos4255]

I started collecting different Japanese Maple tree. I have about five around my house. I wanted to transplant the one thats getting too much sun in my front yard. Is it still okay to do it this time of the year. I don't want to burn anymore coming summer.

[@JohnandBobs]

This is a good time to do it! Use these pruning techniques before or right after you transplant, which will help balance leaf mass with root loss from the transplant.

[@trishgillis292]

What if you'd like to completely remove a maple tree? It was here when we bought the house and we don't like its location. What time of the year do we dig it up?

[@JohnandBobs]

We would recommend you transplant when the tree is dormant to minimizes trauma to the tree. Fall, transplant before the first frost. In spring, before the tree starts leafing out.

[@brendahansen5982]

My Lantana looks a lot like the one in the picture at the end of the video.

[@JohnandBobs]

Awesome! I was very happy with that shot, the lantana was looking 👌👌👌

[@chrislyon2056]

When is the best time to transplant a Japanese Maple?

[@JohnandBobs]

The best time would be late winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant and has very little leaves. Doing it in summer tends to put a lot more stress on the tree.

[@chrislyon2056]

@@JohnandBobs Thank you.

[@bubblesmckenzie4125]

Angel hair and meatballs

[@JohnandBobs]

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