The gardener's favorite house tree is called globe maple. A spherical crown, picturesque lobed leaves and a golden yellow autumn color impressively showcase the compact maple refinement. To ensure that the decorative crown shape is maintained, regular shaping and thinning is advisable. The following tutorial explains these and other reasons for expert pruning care on the Acer platanoides 'Globosum' in detail and comprehensibly.
When and how do I cut a maple tree?
Spherical maple should be cut between the end of September and the end of October to avoid heavy sap flow. An annual topiary is recommended to maintain the desired spherical shape. Branches can be shortened by a third or quarter and dead wood removed every 2 to 3 years.
Juice flow dictates cutting time
The growth of ball maple is characterized by astrong sap flow After small and large wounds, the tree literally bleeds out. With its juices, 'Globosum' loses a large part of its defenses against pathogens. This characteristic largely determines the best date for pruning care.
In early fall, sap pressure drops to its lowest level of the year. The weeks between the end of September and the end of October have proven to be optimal for pruning maple trees. At the same time, the Federal Nature Conservation Act allows from30. September Pruning of all kinds of trees, so that you are acting in accordance with the law by choosing this date.
To determine the perfect day for a cut, aTest cut provides information. Cut back two thin shoots that are no more than a finger thick and pay attention to the sap flow. Slight bleeding gives the green light for the planned cutting measure. Heavy sap flow suggests postponing the timing by a week and carrying out the test cut again.
Why cut maple? – Cutting types at a glance
The round crown forms a ball maple on its own because it is the result of expert breeding and skillful refinement. Over the years, the spherical shape is lost and tends to have a flat-oval crown structure, which is disapprovingly referred to as a “pancake crown”. With aregular topiary you can prevent unwanted changes. A common reason for cutting measures is storm damage. When Acer platanoides 'Globosum' has shed its leaves in autumn, the bare branches offer ideal areas for strong winds to attack. If a ball maple tree has not received pruning care for many years, the crown will visibly age. A radical rejuvenation cut solves the problem. The following table summarizes important cutting types:
| Cut style | Goal/Occasion |
|---|---|
| Topiary | Keep the crown small and spherical |
| Blending cut | Remove dead wood, promote light-flooded growth |
| Repair Cut | Repair storm damage |
| Rejuvenation cut | rejuvenate aging, misshapen crown |
Cut the crown regularly – topiary instructions
A ball maple tree only retains its spherical crown when it is young. Under the influence of a growth rate of 20 to 40 centimeters per year, the spherical crown becomes noticeably flattened. A crown diameter of up to 6 meters causes space problems in a small garden after just a few years. You can effectively counteract the undesirable growth process with anannual topiary. This also has the advantage that the cut is limited to thin shoots in the outer crown area. How to master a topiary with flying colors:
- The best time is between the end of September and the end of October (end of January at the latest)
- Carry out a test cut to determine sap flow strength
- You can choose to cut back all shoots by a third or shorten branches that protrude out of shape
- Place the pruning shears at a slight angle 5 millimeters above a pair of buds facing outwards
Thanks to a moderate cut and wise choice of timing, you can avoid the dreaded sap flow. Limit the cutting scope to shoots that are no more than a thumb thick. This reduces stress for maple trees and gardeners alike. In the meantime, take a few steps back to examine the current cutting profile and plan the next steps.
Background
Genetic mutation overrides growth law
The round crown of a ball maple is the result of a combination of breeding, grafting and genetic mutation. Wild species thrive with a highly oval to pyramidal crown because the growth law of peak promotion rules here. As a result, the growth of buds at the top dominates disproportionately over the growth of buds further down. In an Acer platanoides 'Globosum', the terminal buds and side buds sprout almost equally. As a result, a spherical crown initially forms, which takes on a broad oval shape as it ages. Without tip bud dominance, the tree cannot form a straight trunk. Because of this, the spherical crown is grafted onto the trunk of a suitable wild species.
Thinning cuts prevent aging
A scaled-down form of pruning care takes place at intervals of 2 to 3 years. The thinning cut focuses on removing dead wood and uses this opportunity to optimize the crown shape. This type of cut is recommended if there is no lack of space or if a wide, oval crown shape is desired so that your maple tree can serve as a decorative shade for your seating area. The goal is alight-flooded spherical crown, which also has a dense layer of leaves deep inside. As the figure below illustrates, it is beneficial if you apply skillful cutting to long branches. How to make the perfect thinning cut:
- Ideal time window is open from the end of September to the end of October
- Cut by the end of January at the latest on a frost-free day
- Saw off dead, bare branches on Astring without leaving long stubs
- Remove shoots that grow laterally or that are directed towards the inside of the crown
- Long branches hanging or vertically protruding from the spherical crown lead to a favorable side shoot
- Alternatively, cut back the entire crown by a third or a quarter
The cutting technique of derivation is advantageous for a round to oval crown shape. The branch in question is not simply cut back to a pair of buds because this creates a gap. Look for a strong, outward-facing side shoot near the planned interface. Where the old and young branches fork, use pruning shears or a saw.
Lighten the crown every 2 to 3 years. Cut out dead wood on Astring. Branches that are too long and protrude from the crown shape can be slimmed down with a derivation cut.
Wild shoots growing out of the trunk and tree disk – what to do?
Below a spherical crown, the wild base draws attention to itself with wildly rampant shoots. The branches sprout from the trunk and tree disc, endowed with robust growth power. The wild shoots, known as water shoots or blind shoots, cheekily strive to overgrow the noble crown. With this strategy they want to win the competition for nutrients, water and light. In this conflict, your ball maple tree is dependent on horticultural help, because it cannot defend itself from the vital onslaught on its own. How to act correctly:
- Remove every wild shoot promptly
- You can either grasp the water layer with your hand and break it to the side or downwards
- Tear off blind shoots from the tree disc with a courageous tug
If a wild shoot has been around for more than a year, you can usually no longer break it off or tear it down. The resulting wound on the trunk bark would be fatal and a welcome target for fungal pathogens and pests. In this case, cut off the wildling, smooth the wound with a knife and sprinkle stone dust or charcoal ash over it.
Repair storm damage to the ball maple tree
A drained maple tree has little to counteract autumn and winter storms. Without the large maple leaves as a buffer zone, the branches offer unprotected starting points for strong gusts of wind and break. However, storm damage is not a reason for clearing. With a strategically sophisticated repair cut you can get the growth back on track. How to proceed professionally:
- Cut back damaged branches down to he althy wood
- Always make a cut within a short distance of a pair of buds
- Saw off completely destroyed shoots on Astring
- Cut back the remaining branches until the round crown shape is restored
Do you feel compelled to prune noticeably thick branches? Then your ball maple will sprout vigorously at this point. In the following early autumn, cut out excess branches from the crown. Ideally, you thin out heavily branched crown areas by diverting weak shoots to a stronger shoot. Experience has shown that it will take a few years for your damaged maple tree to return to its former glory.
Tip
Do not under any circumstances cut into the finishing area. A ball maple consists of a straight trunk and a noble crown without a dominant trunk extension. The neuralgic point is the connection between the wild base and the precious part. If the processing area suffers wounds or is completely cut off, the game will drift through. You will then look in vain for the picturesque spherical crown. At least the head with branch stubs must survive pruning so that the grafting area remains intact.
Revitalize aging ball crown – rejuvenation cut
Neglected pruning care, extreme pest infestation or massive fungal infections are classic reasons for a rejuvenating pruning of the maple maple. How to properly revitalize an aging or diseased ball crown:
- Best time is between the end of September and the end of January
- Cut back all branches except for 10 to 15 centimeter short stumps
- Caution: do not cut into the head-shaped finishing area
It is not mandatory that you do the radical cut in a single day. The procedure is gentler and more tolerable if you spread the rejuvenation over several appointments between the end of September and the end of January. This gives the plagued maple tree the opportunity to regenerate between the cutting stages and to gather its strength.
Excursus
The right cutting tool for all branch thicknesses
The combination of cutting sensitivity and strong sap flow requires the right cutting tools. Smooth cuts guarantee that plant sap drains quickly. For shoot thicknesses of up to 3.5 centimeters, we recommend loppers with a bypass mechanism. Here two sharp cutting edges run past each other. With anvil pruners, a sharp cutting edge presses the shoot against the blunt anvil, which can lead to bruising. Branches with a diameter of 4 centimeters and more are a case for the Japanese saw, also known as a folding saw. It is important to ensure that the scissor blades and saw blades are meticulously clean. Thoroughly disinfect the tool with spirit or glass cleaner before cutting.
Frequently asked questions
Our house is about 6 meters away from the neighboring house. Most of the cables run there. Is this distance enough for the roots of a maple tree? Can the roots cause damage to the pipes?
The distance of 6 meters between the two houses is tight, but should still be enough. An occasional topiary will keep the expansion of the crown of a maple tree in check. As it has shallow roots, the risk of pipe damage is low, but cannot be completely ruled out. It largely depends on how well the lines are insulated and how deep they run in the ground. The soil conditions are also relevant. In heavy, moist clay soil, roots of the maple maple grow less deeply than in loose, sandy-dry soil.
We received a potted maple maple today. In our small garden, the treetop must not become too voluminous. When and how often is pruning advisable?
Planting pruning is not necessary on the ball maple tree. The tree forms its spherical crown even without topiary. To keep the spherical crown small, you can shorten the shoots by a third or a quarter every year. The best time is in late autumn after the leaves have fallen. Maple trees that are pruned in spring bleed relatively heavily, which can weaken the trees. However, if pruning shears are used between September and January, a maple tree will bleed minimally or not at all.
I would like to line my driveway with maple maple. Is the trunk still growing in height or does it remain at the delivered height?
The trunk height of the ball maple 'Globosum' no longer changes. Only the crown grows in height and width. Over the years the expansion reaches between 300 and 600 centimeters. You can keep the crown shape smaller by regular pruning.
A ball maple tree in our garden is 4 to 5 meters high. Now we can no longer walk upright under its crown. For this reason we want to cut the tree back. When is the best time? Will it then sprout again?
The best date for pruning is in late autumn. During the months of September to January, a maple tree rarely bleeds and is only slightly susceptible to red pustule fungi. For larger cuts, please coat the edges of the wound thinly with tree wax to protect the sensitive wound wood from frost. An Acer platanoides 'Globosum' can easily cope with being cut back by half or two thirds and will sprout again next spring.
I planted my new ball maple in spring. It has grown well and has a lushly leafy crown. Now in October I noticed that white mildew is spreading on the foliage. What can I do about it?
Maple trees are unfortunately susceptible to mildew in summer. Under the influence of warm, humid weather, the fungal spores prefer to nest on the large leaves. It is not necessary to use fungicides in the fall. Wait for the leaves to fall and collect all the leaves to dispose of them in the trash. If you provide the maple maple with sufficient fertilizer next spring from April to the end of June, it will sprout he althy leaves. With increasing age, susceptibility to mildew decreases significantly.
Can I use the cuttings as cuttings to grow a new maple tree?
Unfortunately this is not possible. Ball maple is a refined form of Norway maple (Acer platanoides). The spherical crown is the result of head refinement by the master gardener. Against this background, the relatively high prices for a young plant are understandable.
The 3 most common cutting mistakes
A misshapen, prematurely senescent crown is the victim of typical mistakes when pruning ball maple. If the crown does not sprout after a cut or appears as unsightly bushes, there is also a classic mistake behind it. To protect you from such annoyances, the following table names the three most common cutting errors and gives tips for preventative measures:
| Cutting errors | malicious image | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| never photographed | aged crown that is balding from the inside | Thin out dead wood every 2 to 3 years |
| cut into the finishing point | Wild base drifts through, no more ball crown | do not cut into the finishing area |
| cut in spring | strong sap flow, sticky tree, increased infestation with diseases and pests | cut from the end of September |
Tip
Are you concerned that the long, flat roots of globe maple will lift patio and path slabs? Then plant the tree with a root barrier. Line the planting pit 70 to 80 centimeters deep with impenetrable geotextile. To prevent the roots from growing over the barrier, it should protrude about 10 centimeters from the soil.
