Maples are very common in Europe, Asia and North America: there are more than 200 species with different characteristics. They vary in appearance, from shrubs to trees of varying height — some species reach up to 40 m. They also have deciduous leaves in a variety of shapes. However, one thing that all species of maple have in common is the stunning sight of their colourful leaves in autumn, an explosion of yellows, oranges and reds. In some countries such as the United States and Japan, maple foliage is even a tourist attraction.
Maples are also widespread in Italy, which is home to indigenous and non-native species, and are popular as ornamental plants, particularly the field maple, acer negundo (or boxelder maple), palmate maple (also known as the Japanese maple). Precisely because of its elegant shape and beautiful leaves—which turn brilliant red in autumn—the Japanese maple is often used as a garden focal point.
You are viewing: When Is The Best Time To Prune A Maple Tree
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How to prune maple trees? Is it appropriate to drastically prune maple trees? And when is the best time to prune a maple? Are there times of year that aren’t recommended? Read on as we answer these questions.
Maple pruning
As with other trees, maples need pruning to:
- Reduce the overall size of the plant: this is even truer in cities where space is already limited by fences and buildings and shared with other trees, etc.
- Lighten the canopy: this reduces the number of branches to achieve density in the right place, so that all the foliage gets maximum exposure to light and air. If the canopy is too thick, it may create a dark and damp environment that favours the proliferation of parasites.
- Renew vegetation: every year, maples develop new branches that extend further and further away from the trunk, so it is necessary to cut old branches to make room for new ones, but in such a way that the crown doesn’t expand excessively.
- Raise the bottom of the crown, if it is causing an interference.
- Eliminate basal shoots and suckers, which are branches that draw resources away from the rest of the plant.
For maples, drastic pruning is not recommended: as with other plants, it is preferable to make smaller and more frequent cuts, rather than very invasive cuts on an occasional basis.
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As you know, there is a variety of pruning accessories to choose from: manual saws, telescopic saws, loppers and professional pruning shears such as the Universal shears with steel blade, curved anvil and aluminium handle, for pruning branches up to 2.5 cm thick.
In order to prune faster, or if you need to work on larger branches, you can use an electric or petrol engine chainsaw. A compact chainsaw like the MT 3710 is perfect for small/medium-sized maples.
If your tree is bigger, it’s better to opt for a pruning chainsaw like the MTT 2500, which is compact and lightweight, for precision cutting even when tree-climbing. Watch it in action here.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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