If maple trees had a say, they would remove the topic of pruning from the care program. Blood maple is no exception in this regard, especially since it forms its magnificent, broad-spherical crown on its own. However, you don't have to accept unbridled growth with long whip shoots. This guide explains when and how to properly prune a blood maple.
When and how should you prune a blood maple?
Pruning blood maple should be done in autumn to minimize sap flow. Remove dead branches, shorten branches that are too long and only cut one- and two-year-old wood, ideally within a short distance of a sleeping eye.
Appointment in autumn minimizes the risks
Blood maple is a direct descendant of the native Norway maple (Acer platanoides). The growth of both trees is characterized by a strong flow of sap from every small wound. Choosing a time carefully reduces the risk of a maple tree bleeding to death. After the autumn leaves fall, the sap pressure decreases. The time window for cutting the blood maple remains open until the temperatures fall below -5 degrees Celsius.
Restraint is the key – instructions for the cut
Every pruning of the blood maple is accompanied by the risk of fungal attack. Please clean the cutting tool carefully before you start cutting the shape. When making the cut, keep in mind that maple species often have difficulty growing out of old wood. How to do it right:
- Thin out dead branches in advance without leaving long stubs standing
- Then shorten branches that are too long
- Place the scissors at a slight angle at a short distance from a sleeping eye (thickening under the bark)
Limit pruning to one- and two-year-old wood. Since a blood maple grows between 20 and 25 cm per year under normal conditions, do not cut off more than 50 cm from one shoot. If you are forced to thin out an old, thick branch, proceed in three stages: Saw the branch at a distance of 30 cm from the trunk from the bottom to the middle. Move the saw 10 cm outwards to saw off the branch from above. Cut off remaining stub on astring.
Tip
If you have ordered your blood maple to change location, pruning cannot be avoided. Transplanting maple trees and bushes is inevitably accompanied by the loss of root mass. To ensure a seamless supply of water and nutrients to the branches at the new location, all shoots are cut back by a third.
