Pruning a Japanese Maple Tree with OSU Master Gardeners 

Most informative pruning video I've seen because she educated me on areas other's didn't address! Her information was what I was searching for. I'm impressed!

Not only does this vid include a lot of good info, it’s presented in a way that facilitates learning the material. Kudos to Sherry.

I found this video very informative and helpful. It gives very specific information that is left out of many posts on this subject.

Best Video on Pruning a Japanese Maple Tree! Thanks Sherry!

Best instruction I've seen! Covers all the most important points!

Excellent video. Thank you for your clear instructions and visuals.

I have a young Japanese Maple. First pruning will be late winter 2023. All the upper branches appear to be swept over and growing to one side. It must have been constrained in some way at the nursery. Looks like it hit a ceiling and had to grow sideways or had to reach for the sun. I'm going to train some branches back in the correct direction. I need a video to help me through that. This video definitely included the info I need for pruning....the when, what, and how of it. Very helpful! Thank you!!

This is the most helpful video I've found on this subject. Thank you!

These videos are awesome! Very clear and informative no doubt! Thank you!

I watched 4 videos, this was the best! thank you

Really good practical advice, thanks.

Great information! Exactly what I needed to know!

Thank you so much for this video. Your voice is nice and calm and easy to understand. For me the best example I have found on how to do the clean cut along the collar.

Best video. Very informative and easy to get it.

Thank you for this helpful video! I have a Japanese Maple that is now halfway over an immovable walkway leading from my home to my patio. My 91 year old mum is now fearful of using the walkway. Naturally, I am going to remedy this, but I was fearful that I'd ruin a beautiful tree that brings such pleasure to everyone. Your video gives me the confidence to help without hurting! Many thanks!!

This is great. Just what I needed. I have a beautiful tree and don't want to damage it. Thank you!

Very good explanation, but the camera failed to show any of exact cuttings - very sad, indeed.

Thank you for this video! My wife and I just bought our first home last year which already had a beautiful Japanese Maple. We have been afraid to prune it as we did not want to damage it because of our ignorance.

Thanks for the great to-the-point advice!!

Great video thank you! I would appreciate better detail on that second part, removing the interior branches - perhaps just one idea on where to make a cut.

Thanks for very helpful diagram of branch collar.

Nice job. I recently bought a home with a Japanese Maple and to me the top is too tall and the side branches are a little too wide. In late February I’m going to attempt to reshape tree without maiming or damaging it. Meantime reading up and watching many videos so I do it correctly. This definitely helps.

Thank you, Sherry - you always do a great job in your videos and classes. I do wish you would show a detailed before and after of removing crossing branches and opening up the center. (Assume some of us know nothing and need to see it to understand it.)

So informative, thanks

Fantastic. Thank you!

Very well done, exactly what I needed to know. Thank you.

great video, thanks for sharing

great video ❤️

The bonsai in me screaming airlayer that lower branch lol

Thank you!

Clear, quick and helpful! Thank you!

The worst thing about maple is when you get something called verticillium. The tree just half-part dead for no reason.

Great video, thank you :D

Good video, thanks.

I wish that you would have shown side-by-side "before" & "after" views to give us an idea of how much thinning and "whip" removal you ended up doing to this tree.

Thank you

Thank you.

Thank you for this informative video. But I need help.. my beautiful Maple tree has overgrown the area. Can I hard prune it to bring it to a manageable size?

Good vid for showing what to do with a mature tree. I'd like to see vid on what to do with a young tree -- seems no one is addressing that.

Great video! As far as pruning goes, when’s a good time of the year to prune heavily? Or what time of the year is best for pruning in general? Seems to be disagreements on that. I have taken a few branches off of one of my lace leaf maples last week dec 18,and haven’t noticed any sap. I’m in zone 7b. Also for root pruning does this same concept apply? Only when the tree is dormant? Thanks

Excellent work..

What's the latest time of year to prune in Michigan. Were just a couple days in spring. Still a good time?

Thank you so much. Can I ask the reason that we cut back the branch at a pair of buds? And will that bud will branch out a new branch? Thanks

I have a japanese maple with four branches coming off the main trunk four to five inches from the ground. The branches make up the bulk of the tree and have grown up to 12 feet. Is it possible to cut all but one of the branches. The branches are about 3 inches in diameter. The trunk is about 6 or 7 inches in diameter. Will I kill the tree? The tree is 14 years old in the ground. It was in a 10 gallon pot to start and about 3 to 4 feet tall. It looks like a hand with four fingers.

Thank you, very nice and precise.... I know it's best to prune in late winter but would you or is it safe to prune in late spring or summer after you can actually looks like clothed.. I can tell you have a keen aesthetic that I can appreciate.

Great👍

I have a 50+ year old Japanese maple in my front yard about 30ft tall. I bought the house 2 years ago & have noticed a ton of branches are starting to die & fall off. I would be so grateful if you would be able to do a quick zoom call with me & tell me which branches to trim to help my tree. I would just tag the branches & cut them after the call. Thank you!

Please show the result after final cut

Please demonstrate pruning of crossing branches. You fast forward this step.

Thank you for the video. My question is if I cut back a major branch (leaving the collar, as you demonstrate), with a Japanese coral bark vine maple, will a bunch of small branches sprout around the recent cut next year. Thank you for your guidance... David Langsather, Salem, Oregon

Very helpful. My question is whether the major co-dominant branch to the right is now too large to remove? If so, I wonder if reduction pruning on its outer branches over the years would help to reduce its size in relation to the central leader to the right? Slowly turn that co-dominant leader into a branch, in other words.

If only you could make a video on how to restore a maple tree from sheering!

Is it okay to prune in spring when the leaves are coming through anew? I forgot to prune in the winter. Thanks so much!

I found the video helpful, but have a serious question. When you say "branch is growing the wrong way" are you not liking the proportion of the tree or it is simply growing into a part of the garden you prefer to not have branches?

Great video. I heavily pruned a (

I need to prune mine but I am afraid to damage the tree

Would it be possible to use the branch to propagate more of the same tree?

Give me a call if you care about your Japanese maples. I will treat them with respect.

Why she waits ten years to prune the tree 🌳

Wrong time of year to prune this tree. Google it.

At least she has knee pads...ladies ladies pfff

Amazing video! Can you please remove the heavy-metal intro and Outro thanks saliva face

This is not a real Japanese Maple

So you are a master gardener? Please... It's clear you haven't pruned trees very often. Mistake #1: the first cut after the undercut should be nearer to the undercut, in order to avoid what happened @3:12. The undercut you've done was totally useless and, in fact, should have been higher. Mistake #2: the final cut you've done was not clean as you said, the lower part of the wound has been damaged.. You have to sustain the branch while you cut, or make a micro undercut on the axe. Mistake #3: you don't shorten branches on a Japanese Maple tree Mistake #4: never cut like @4:43 holding the branch down.