The ash maple (Acer Negundo) originally comes from North America and is a real eye-catcher in the garden with its pretty feathery leaves. The “colorful” varieties are particularly popular. H. variegated leaves. In its homeland, the ash maple can grow up to 20 meters high, in our country the tree reaches an average height of around three to five meters. In contrast to other types of maple, the ash maple is very easy to cut.
When and how should you prune an ash maple?
When cutting ash maple, you should do it in September or October to prevent fungal infections. Sharp, clean tools and hygienic working methods are important. A pyramid-shaped cut promotes the characteristic foliage color.
Ash maple is not a typical maple when it comes to cutting tolerance
There are around 200 different types of maple trees worldwide, for which a general rule applies: They should not be pruned if possible. Maples tolerate pruning very poorly and often react to such measures with fungal diseases and short stature. Maple trees also have a strong tendency to bleed, which is why they should never be pruned during the cold season. Not so with the ash maple: Acer Negundo can be cut back without any problems, even to just above the ground. As one of the few maples, this species is able to sprout directly from the cane.
The right time
Unfortunately, the ash maple is also quite susceptible to fungal diseases, especially infection with red pustule disease. However, this (as well as other fungal infections) can be avoided by choosing the right time to prune. Since the danger is lowest in the months of September / October, you should use secateurs during this time. The tendency to bleed is also less pronounced in the early autumn months. Under no circumstances should you cut in winter or early spring.
Rules for pruning
You can also prevent a fungal infection by following certain rules, whereby greater attention should be paid to hygiene.
- Cutting tools should be sharp and clean.
- Disinfect before and after each use.
- Close the wounds with a wound closure agent (€10.00 on Amazon), for example resin.
- Don't leave any stubs standing, they will grow into unsightly broom shoots.
When cutting, also make sure that the cut shape is visually pleasing. This is achieved, for example, if you trim the ash maple in a pyramid shape: the middle shoot remains a little longer than the other shoots, and a step-by-step cut follows from top to bottom. The upper shoots are shorter than the lower ones.
Tip
Pruning is actually recommended for the ash maple because: the more vigorously the pruning, the stronger the characteristic foliage color will be.
