Summer Solstice Pruning of Japanese Maples

Summer is the time to prune Japanese maples for shape. This is a follow up video to the Winter Pruning of Japanese maples. If you have not seen that video, it would be useful to view it before this video. This Japanese maple had been pruned by Bop over six years to get the basic framework shape. Once the framework is set, it is just a matter of pruning to keep the overall shape.
Deadwood can be taken out at any time throughout the Season, but pruning new growth is done in the Summer. It is very important that maples should not be leaf pruned too late in the Season. Any pruning for shape should be done before Labor Day and is even advisable not to prune past the middle of August unless there is an urgent need to remove growth.
Maples and all trees and shrubs go through a process as the weather cools in the Fall called 'hardening off'. The sugars and nutrients in the leaves begin to move into the roots to support the tree over the Winter. If you prune too late in the Season, new growth will emerge but it will not have enough nutrients and sugars to support the new growth and the leaves will die back. This will stress the tree and may even cause the entire branch to die back if too much growth is removed too late in the Season.
Bop demonstrates the proper pruning techniques on Acer palmatum dissectum 'Inaba Shidare' but this type of pruning applies to all maples.

[@sophiekotomski4588]

Most helpful of the several videos I’ve watched. Thank you.

[@wendyrodger]

Thanks for the helpful tips. Going to prune my Japanese maple now as it’s very overgrown.😊

[@jimmmyz169]

Studying for CT arborist exam so it is so cool to see examples in Connecticut! I am just going down the list of trees to learn to identify. I don't know what to expect on the actual oral and tree identification exam so I'm going through all the videos I can find and studying the many differences among the beautiful trees!

[@davidsilver6253]

Good for you! The profession is in high demand in Connecticut these days. I wish you great success.

[@davidsilver6253]

I should also mention "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs" It is one of my top reference books and highly readable. If you don't have it, you should get it. My well-thumbed edition is from 2004 and was published by Timber Press.

[@jimmmyz169]

@@davidsilver6253 Thank you!

[@davidsilver6253]

Your welcome!

[@reinabiltanza]

I'm so glad I found your channel! I'm considering a few different types of trees and tree-like shrubs for a spot on my front yard, all of which need to stay around a max of 15' height and 8' width. Japanese Maples and Doublefile Viburnums are on my list and your pruning videos for those are so helpful. I am also considering a Little King Dwarf River Birch tree and was wondering if you have recommendations on pruning those?

[@davidsilver6253]

Thank you for your comment. Just remember that Double file Viburnums bloom on old wood, so pruning is done after flowering. I am glad you found the video on pruning them helpful. I am not familiar with the Dwarf river birch, but dwarf doesn't necessarily mean it stays small. It means it is slow growing. If you choose the proper spot, it should not be necessary to prune. We do top off river birches at the apex to keep them from having storm damage, but other than that we rarely prune them . If you supply me with the Genus and species of the river birch, I might be able to give you some more information on it.

[@user-he9mv4jn9m]

Great help and thanks for sharing it

[@davidsilver6253]

@@user-he9mv4jn9m Thank you so much. Nice to know.

[@user-nm8qu4yg4j]

👍

[@wheretheskygrows]

How do you handle Japanese maples that are really overgrown? How much can you safely cut in the summer?

[@stephaniescofield9433]

Good question. I have the same problem.