Slotted maple varieties have a reputation for not being able to tolerate topiary well. In fact, Acer palmatum is one of the most popular bonsai species in Japan because it is suitable for cutting. The professional approach is based primarily on one central aspect. These instructions explain how to properly cut your slotted maple.
How do I cut a slotted maple correctly?
To properly cut a slotted maple, choose the time at the end of the leafless winter period and use sharp, disinfected scissors. Only cut one-year-old wood and shorten a maximum of a third of the previous year's growth a few millimeters above a leaf node.
Best date is before budding
Slotted maple is not a native maple species and is therefore sensitive to any interference with its growth. By choosing a time carefully, you can effectively prevent problems after pruning. How to do it right:
- The best time is at the end of the leafless winter period
- Swelling leaf buds signal the start of the growing season
- The weather is dry, frost-free without bright sunshine
Instructions for the correct cut
The warnings against pruning the slotted maple are based on the fact that it is difficult or impossible to grow out of old wood. Therefore, home gardeners grudgingly accept that the Asian tree grows sparingly and loses its compact shape. In fact, you can trim your Acer palmatum to shape as long as you follow the following procedure:
- Use freshly sharpened garden or pruning shears (€76.00 on Amazon) with disinfected blades
- Limit cutting to one-year-old wood
- Reduce a maximum of one third of the previous year's increase
- Place the scissors a few millimeters above a leaf node or sleeping eye
On slow-growing varieties such as 'Mikawa yatsubusa' or 'Shaina' with 5 to 10 cm per year, you will hardly ever think about pruning. These cultivars maintain their compact growth and do not age. The popular red maple 'Atropurpureum', on the other hand, grows up to 50 cm per year, which can lead to uncontrollably gesticulating branches. When it comes to fast-growing slot maple varieties, don't be afraid to use scissors to curb the growth.
Tip
If your maple tree suffers from severe frost damage, the plant's self-healing powers are not sufficient for regeneration. If you cut frozen shoots back to he althy wood in the spring, your Japanese maple will usually recover. He althy wood can be recognized as green tissue under the bark. You can identify dead wood by gray and dry tissue.
