Tips When Pruning A Japanese Maple Tree 

Thanks for checking out the pruning of my Japanese Maple Tree! This is how I prune my tree & it has remained healthy. Please consider subscribing, if you haven’t already.

When this video started I was saying "no don't do it" but by the ned it was just beautiful with that thick trunk showing. This is my first year with Japanese Maples and I already bought 15 plants lol. I do have a large yard.

Very nice looking tree. My only advice would be to doing some more aggressive pruning opening it up more so you can see the branch structure and so it opens things up more for sunlight to pass through. Kind of similar to how you would prune a bonsai. Then it doesn’t have such a shrub like look and you can make it more of a tree type look. Beautiful tree though 😀

Absolutely beautiful. I'm getting ready to trim mine for the first time so I definitely needed to watch your video.

My preference is to selectively prune branches and create layers like a bonsai. I start at the bottom branches and work my way up and out, following the branch. This way you can remove all the dead branches on the interior that the top layers shade out and kill. I also like to put in layers (horizontal open spaces) so that the tree looks like a bonsai tree. This helps with airflow and reduces diseases and allows light to reach the lower branches. I am not a fan of clipped hedging into round balls or mushrooms because you can not see any of the delicate branching structures inside the tree that makes jap maples so valuable. If you are interested, look up 'Heron Bonsai Niwaki" he gives a great tutorial on the style I am referring to and how I shape my garden trees. Thanks for the video!

Really great content! ❤️ Thanks for sharing! 😘 Looking forward to your next video! ❣️

Thanks! My dad and I wanted to start trimming the one in his front yard and this helps a ton!

WoW thats a beautiful little tree, first time seeing one and you look like you're in your happy place out there. Can't wait to see more.

Thank you for your videos - very helpful - your enthusiasm is infectious !!

It sounds so beautiful with the birds in the background very peaceful

I was nervous to trim mine but this video helped me tremendously! I hope mine looks as good as yours when im done lol. Thanks again for the amazing and informative video💯👍👍🌱

Just found your video, love your tree ,I have one just like that but I didn't realize I could trim it like that,thank you.

Thanks so much for sharing these amazing tips! Really helpful :)

Love how you trimmed it, thanks for the tutorial!

Thanks! I’ve looking for a great tutorial on pruning my Japanese Maple. Very helpful.

Thank you for taking the time to share your tutorial 😊. Greetings from Canada. Subscribed 👌🏿

This is great. I love the fact that you are enjoying it. Good positive energy. i don't have that kind of tree, but will use the tips.

I actually have one of these trees too! You have a beautiful yard 😍 I never thought of using tarps to make it easier to clean up. Thank you!

Love this!! Plant lover here. I love the finished product.

I do like some of your other J.M. videos and I understand that everyone has different tastes, but pruning this tree in a more natural look would be amazing. It looks like you like to shear a lot of your plants, but all of the ones I see around this Japanese maple could be pruned more naturally for much easier maintenance and a less stiff look. Maybe you'd like to experiment with a few of your plants. Most of the cuts we do when shearing, and that you did on this tree are called "heading back" cuts. This type of cut encourages new growth at the tips of the branches, which results in a dense plant on the outside, but shades out any inner growth, many plants need the air and light to penetrate. It also means that any new growth grows OUTSIDE the original shearing and looks messy soon after shearing (some slower growers, like boxwoods, don't look as messy as others though). Thinning cuts can be used to create a more natural look. Thinning cuts take the entire branch or stem back to another one, allowing air and light to penetrate the plant. This type of pruning usually results in new growth deeper in the plant which doesn't tend to look messy for quite a while. Japanese maples are known for beautiful branch structure, heading back cuts which results in dense outer growth really can take away from that. Creating a layered look with the foliage, with some branches coming close to the ground and opening it up a bit will make your tree look like a classic Japanese maple. Think of them as sculpture. When rejuvenating a plant with more natural pruning, you can start by removing the longest stems deep into the plant. Make some holes in the plant--the first season it may look like Swiss cheese! Avoid heading back cuts for the first few seasons to encourage growth deep inside the plant. Try not to remove more than 1/3 of the growth each season, but some plants are tougher and some not. People don't often believe me when I tell them that natural pruning results in much less work in the garden. Most of our suburban homes aren't complemented by formally pruned balls and lollipops. So shearing does two things; it means we need to prune more often and it means that our plants look messy as soon as they start to grow again. I'd love to see some updates on the tree now. I've just found your channel and will be looking for more videos! Thanks.

This reminds me when I was back home in the Caribbean living with my mom.

You go, Loretta 🎉❤

love your videos.. wish more people would invest more time in their landscape. It just says so much about your personality and it adds so much to the aesthetics of the home.

You did an excellent job pruning. I love the Japanese Maple tree. I believe I'll get one for our house.

Thanks for the tutorial you did a Beautiful job, now I'm going to try that on mine...Wish me luck!!! 🙂

You make this look easy

Thank you so much for all the tips about trimming this plant

What a beauty!

I've just moved into a house where the previous owners were avid collectors of roses and interspersed with Acers. Some areas of the garden have become overgrown and I found your video when looking for the techniques on how to prune (or perhaps hair cut) these. Thank you for the tips, including the groundsheets. I'm in the Uk, but liked and subscribed as useful content is hard to find on RU-vid.

Thank you. I have one of these beautiful trees, and had no idea how to prune it.

I love it! Subscribed!

I love the Japanese maples along the driveway. Mine is pretty similar but it's shorter. Love the burgungy on it. Thanks for the tips!

Thanks so much for the great video. It will help with my dwarf Japanese Maple which is almost identical to yours and of similar age.

That tree looks really cool!

Thank you, very informative !! I was about ready to pull my two Japanese maple out.. . But now I'm going to try to clean it up. Hello from Washington state!!!

Good job well done. Yes, I liked and subscribed to your channel.

Looks great

Nice tree! Opening up the canopy and allowing light to reach interior branches is actually recommended. It helps growth and prevents deadwood.

It’s beautiful. Ok today is July 31/2022. I’m doing it and thanks for tarp idea I’ll definitely need to do that. I wouldn’t of thought of that. I definitely subscribed!💕

Your have inspired me to prune 🍁💕❤️

I have the same tree but mine is in a pot and sits proudly in my border. I have never pruned it, other than snipping the dead branches off after winter. I just let nature take its course. Either way, it is a beautiful tree as yours is. Love from UK 🇬🇧

I love this video you did an awesome job trimming the Japanese maple they are such beautiful trees thank you so much my awesome new friend I can see I’m going to love your channel I always love a good garden video

Thank you!

An absolutely gorgeous tree. Mine is a bonsai in training. I am a maple fan, but this girl is my favorite.

My wife loves these so I thought I would check it out. Great video

Thanks for the video. Now I’m gonna try it on my own.

That tree looks amazing. I truly do believe your yard is the envy of the neighborhood. I was laughing at myself watching your skill pruning because for the longest I thought that process was grab, cut and toss. My bushes looked a hot mess. Keep teaching me all your skills 🤗👍🏽

Wow thanks for the tips dear. Nice flower very clean outside and house. I really enjoy watching big like new friend full support. ❤️👍🔔

beautiful. need to do mine and your video is very helpful. Subscribed!

I enjoyed your video and I just subscribed! 😊😆🏆

It looks beautiful

2 times a year do this, that's a good tree to have especially when you have to do it in the winter and it's not that much to do, I like this tree it's pretty. Yes I love how you put tarps less work!! see you Friday!! :)

Nice video! I’ve got one of these in the front yard and I just made it very bald.. Hopefully it grows back! Haha

Beautiful!!!

I have two of these in pots then are beautiful 😍 I think eveyone needs one in there garden so easy to look after

That’s a beautiful tree, great job,

I’ve never bothered to trim my Japanese maple 🤔 I’m going to have to look at them now thanks.

Your crimson queen is amazing looking. 👀🤩🤩🤩

Good video👍👍👍

You are the greatest

Great job. I wanted to see how you use tarps and what tools you use. Just what I was looking for!😊

Looks great! How long does it take you to prune it? Subscribed.

Sry for so many questions.. but what do you use for weed control in your flower garden

❤ thanks ;))!

It looks so much better

Most enjoyable

Lovely ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

Good.

yes yes bell is on. The notification came, I ran and came. I will return again. of course

Hello, I have one that was here when we moved in and have never done anything to it, I live in southern Indiana, so it is November would it ok to trim it now?

Such a beautiful tree, I have no green thumb though 🙃

Just bought mine! I love the Japanese Maple. I even bought it from a Japanese man. So mine is what one would say-"Authentic." lol. Great video. Oh, mine is only 4 years old.

Loved your video. I actually just bought a Crimson Queen yesterday. Not sure where to plant it. I've wanted to plant it in full sun, but came across research that suggested not to. I also live in zone 8B. Is your maple in full sun?

Beautiful trees have some by my koi pond with 14 feet tall bamboo 😍

This tree is so beautiful. I just bought 2 smaller ones in the middle of July. Did the green leaves get the red color afterwards?

Great job! Your tree is gorgeous! What state are you in? I'm in Alabama, and I'm worried that if I plant a maple like this, it might not survive.

This video is popping, Loretta. YT recommended it so I made it play. (Not that you need my little one view, but why not!?) 🤪

I just bought my first house where the previous owner was a lovely gardener so I’ve been trying to live up to her🤣🤣 your video was great! Is it to cliche to do the mushroom look with gnomes🤣

I noticed the underlayers are green does it get redder as it matures?

Thank you for this tutorial. I want to purchase japanese maple, but I don't want one of those over flowing ground covering maples. Could I prune any laceleaf in the same manner? Would IT be possible to keep a Tamukeyama maple nice and neat like this?

One question what part of the yard does it need to be in does it need to be in shade? Or in partial shade? Or in full sun? I am so excited to know about this tree and how old it is and how small the Japanese miniature maple ,I have to have one I am now desperate to get one this idiot ,

Xo.. subscribing!! Thank you

This is my first year to have a Japanese maple in the ground. Is it normal for them to lose their foliage in late fall and winter? Thank you

What is your Opinion on using cardboard as a weed fabric in your flower garden

Wauw!

Good job lady😊

My dad has been trying to find the drawf Japanese maple tree for MONTHS now, where did you get yours? Or do you have a recommendation of where I can get a drawf one online?? There so beautiful

I purchased a few varieties of lace leaf maples this year; one of which is a Crimson Queen. I also am in Zone 8b in East Texas. I am not sure how much sun they need and if they will scorch if I plant them in full sun. Any advice of sun requirements would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

How often and for how long do you water this? Just moved to PNW and have small one in front yard thanks

Hi, I would open up the canopy to let air & light in, making your tree look more natural, also give it some layering between branches, invest in a good pair of Japanese secateurs.

What camera did you use?

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I just planted my baby inaba shidare Japanese maple 3 weeks ago. I notice that just the very tips of some of the leaves are dried out almost like hay. Should I be concerned?

Great video! I would have probably made a hack job out of this haha. Have you ever messed up bad before?

wow it looks so beautiful and tiny lol. i love it!! I don't think I've ever heard of Japanese maple trees before so this was a first!

I have this exact tree and did a terrible job last year. Thanks for the tips I understand what I did wrong now and I'm more confident to prune it this weekend. We brought the family house so just learning how to look after the gardens and trees.

amazing talent, amazing video, amazing woman! :)

Last year (inexperienced gardener) I just hacked at mine in the summer because it was getting so out of control. I took a fair amount of branches off and just cut wherever I wanted and now I’m worried I damaged it severely. Right now (as of April 20th) the leaves have come in nice at the bottom but at the middle/top it’s bald and I don’t see any leaves coming in. 😞

Have you propagated any of the clippings?

Love that tree, although I do wonder how it would look all trimmed but with the skirt on 👍

Can you prune in the fall too?