If a ball maple tree gets old, it sometimes loses its harmonious crown shape and becomes noticeably wider or higher. If this growth is not to your liking, correct the aesthetic problem with a topiary. This guide explains when and how to properly cut an Acer platanoides Globosum into shape.
When and how do you carry out a maple topiary?
A ball maple topiary is ideally done in autumn until the end of January. First thin out the crown, remove dead wood and diseased shoots, shorten the side branches by a third if the crown is too wide and trim the height by a third if the crown is narrow.
Juice flow determines the choice of date - tips for the right time
In the profile you can read that ball maple is a breeding variant of the Norway maple. What is characteristic of the variety and the pure species is an intensive flow of sap during the growth period. If a cut is made at the wrong time, a globosum will literally bleed. Therefore, cut a ball maple into shape in autumn by the end of January at the latest.
Cutting guide for the perfect shape cut – How to do it right
If a spherical crown expands over the years, it becomes more like a pancake. This growth can certainly be an advantage for the shadow cast on the cozy seating area. Under the influence of lateral shading, the crown stretches towards the sky and takes on a pyramidal silhouette. If you don't like the shape, you can use pruning shears (€39.00 on Amazon) and a hand saw. How to proceed correctly step by step:
- In the first step, thin out the entire crown
- Cut out dead wood, stunted, diseased shoots and shoots pointing towards the inside of the crown
- On a crown that is too wide and flat, cut back the side branches by a third
- On a crown that is too slender and narrow, trim the height by a third
Please position the scissors or saw specifically so that there is a leaf node or sleeping eye a few millimeters below the cutting surface. With this technique you promote vital shoots and bushy, compact growth. An exception applies to dead wood and other shoots, which are completely removed. The correct cut leaves neither long stubs nor injuries to the branch ring. The astring is the bulge between the branch and the trunk, from which the cut will later heal.
Tip
If you plant a ball maple, the secateurs can stay in the shed. Bred as a top graft on a Norway maple (Acer platanoides), the Globosum variety will look perfect in your garden without the need for pruning.