Pruning back an Acer

Gardening to 'grow your own food' from square foot to half an acre !!
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Richard
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Pruning back an Acer

Post by Richard »

Hi,

Has anyone knowledge on pruning my Acer Bush - getting a tad too big now and a couple of bits are hanging now.

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(Sorry Wendy - Wendy's seen my Acer being showed off for the past six years !! - but I really need to manage it now)

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Mo
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Mo »

It's a lovely shape, you don't want to spoil it.

I don't know for sure but think that often pruning advice is 'take whole unwanted branches out'.
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Richard
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Richard »

Thanks Mo (also seen it grow over the last six years!!) - I've googled it and there's very little spoken about it. Also, it's determining exactly the breed it is.

On the other side to the photo there's a big clump now hanging on the ground.

It is such a lovely plant, everyone who passes comments, it would be such a shame to do something wrong. Thereagain, if I don't, will it die of one day of al sudden.

(Worth a few bob as well I'd imagine!!)

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jannie
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by jannie »

Hi Richard..I have 2 acers in pots each side of my shed door, so I have to keep them pruned...I was told only to prune mid winter or mid summer..never when the sap is active...this is now the 2nd summer I've pruned and they look great..I just prune till it I like the shape.... )t'
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Grannyof4 »

Whatever you do DON'T do it yet. The plant must be fast asleep and lost the leaves as it is then easier to see what you are doing. The middle might need a bit of a clear out as they do need to breathe. Otherwise trim but keep the shape. It looks fabulous so please be careful. Unless someone can name it in here you could always send a bit to the RHS for identification. Years ago I had an apple tree on my yard and so many guests kept asking me what it was and I hadn't a clue as it was here when we moved in.Itwas a strange tree so I sent a bit to the RHS and it was in fact a cross between an orchard apple and a crab apple. Totally inedible, except by wasps.
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Annie
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Annie »

Beautiful Acer ours is just a small one a tub but what a sight when the sun is on its leaves. Good luck with the pruning I always get an attack of the nerves even on the roses I do every year ! :-D
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by jannie »

Grannyof4 wrote:Whatever you do DON'T do it yet. The plant must be fast asleep and lost the leaves as it is then easier to see what you are doing. The middle might need a bit of a clear out as they do need to breathe.


I agree in theory Granny. )t' ...but Richards acer looks the same as mine and its near impossible to pick out any dead wood in the winter...I prune mine end june to end july which I find a better time to get the shape right and cut out the dead wood....I think if this acer was mine ...next summer I would just trim the branches that are dragging the ground, cut out any dead wood, trim all the shoots by 1/3 then leave it ....it's beautiful.. :-D
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Pingu
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Pingu »

Hi Richard

Any convenience pruning should be under taken in April )t' :-D
You've got a nice one there Richard :-D
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by suzy1208 »

Pingu wrote:Hi Richard

Any convenience pruning should be under taken in April )t' :-D
You've got a nice one there Richard :-D

Sorry pingu , that is quite wrong, the sap is rising and will attract insects and fungus attack. I would agree that summer is best time to prune, you will get the best shape.
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by manda »

Richard ...hubby said prune when dormant so November to February or they bleed and it weakens the specimen....then he started going on about pruning cuts and I glazed over...sorry :oops:
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Pingu
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Pingu »

suzy1208 wrote:
Pingu wrote:Hi Richard

Any convenience pruning should be under taken in April )t' :-D
You've got a nice one there Richard :-D

Sorry pingu , that is quite wrong, the sap is rising and will attract insects and fungus attack. I would agree that summer is best time to prune, you will get the best shape.


Oh, I would do it in April.

(After edit) I've just checked on the internet and it says to prune the acer in April :?
Last edited by Pingu on 18 Sep 2010, 13:55, edited 1 time in total.
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Grannyof4
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Grannyof4 »

Manda is spot on, well her hubby is, that is why you prune when it is dormant. Thin out any dead wood in the middle and trim the rest as necessary.
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by suzy1208 »

Hi everyone. I am the head gardener on a large estate and my speciality is Acers! Whilst I agree that in the amatuer garden, pruning when the plant is dormant is accepted as the norm, as a professional I would always prune at the beginning of July. The cuts heal over quickly in warm weather and as someone has pointed out you will achieve a much better resulting shape. Please whatever you decide to do, not prune in spring or in autumn you will cause irreparable damage to what is a remarkable specimen
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by perchy »

suzy1208 wrote:Hi everyone. I am the head gardener on a large estate and my speciality is Acers! Whilst I agree that in the amatuer garden, pruning when the plant is dormant is accepted as the norm, as a professional I would always prune at the beginning of July. The cuts heal over quickly in warm weather and as someone has pointed out you will achieve a much better resulting shape. Please whatever you decide to do, not prune in spring or in autumn you will cause irreparable damage to what is a remarkable specimen

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Pingu
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Re: Pruning back an Acer

Post by Pingu »

Sorry. I will take back what I said about pruning in April. If you're going to prune it, I personally would prune it during November to February as recommended by the RHS.
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