If you want a wider plant, then prune at a point where a branch is pointing outwards in the direction you want to expand. If you want your maple taller, then encourage branching on top that is pointing up, and lighten those branches by removing shoots pointing downwards. The cuts you make will also dictate the future direction of growth. Also, it can involve removing a branch that goes underneath and allowing a visual separation to create a layered effect. It often means removing branches to accentuate a curve or decrease the congestion of multiple branching. The idea at the top of the umbrella is to develop a strong and interesting form to support the rest of the plant. The bigger cuts will produce the major structural changes you are looking for rather than small ones that will fill in quickly. Always start at the top of the plant and make a couple of bigger cuts rather than making lots of smaller cuts. ©2013BDGĪfter the dead and crossing branches are gone it is time to start looking at the major structural branches. With it open all the branching will strengthen and the natural layers have been highlighted. This plant was so dense that the branching on the back had all died. Always step back and look at your progress because it is best to come back and make another cut rather than regretting the loss of a branch you didn’t mean to cut. Step back and see what has developed after this work. The largest branches form a type of umbrella and they tend to flow out and down, and often branches form that go across this structure and they need to be pruned out. Next, I look for branches that are going ‘against the grain’ or crossing the major flowing branches of the tree. For those who might be a little nervous, getting inside and pruning out the dead branches is a great place to start. The question I get most often is where do I start. Last week, I helped a client prune a slightly overgrown and dense maple. Aesthetically, you want to accentuate the delicate branching and flowing form. ©2013BDGįunctionally, they need to be opened up to allow light inside so the inner branches won’t wither. With new lighting underneath it will be beautiful at night and all year long. The leaves will have better color with the light and the many layers are highlighted. While they might achieve the lollipop form they are seeking, it encourages a thick outer layer of leaves with no internal growth and a plant that must expand every year to survive. I hate seeing contractors pruning azaleas, boxwood, holly and many other shrubs with gas pruners. Like most shrubs, they need to be pruned for aesthetic and functional purposes. With some regular pruning you can have a stunning structural plant that is open to allow you to appreciate the foliage and branching, and it can easily be conformed to any size and be trained in any direction. The form and branching is what makes this plant so desirable throughout the year. While they can still be attractive without pruning, I feel that the thick outer layer obscures from view the beautiful branching inside. In time they will have many layers with the innermost dying from lack of light. Naturally these plants tend to form a thick flowing coat of branches and leaves, somewhat reminiscent of Cousin It from the Addams Family. It is attractive, but needs some pruning to let more light in and accentuate the many branching layers. Use chemical control: Regular doses of a fungicide, especially in the spring, can stop an outbreak before it begins.Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ prior to pruning.Follow spacing guidelines when planting and avoid natural windbreaks for good air circulation.Grow plants in an open, sunny locations so the foliage dries quickly.Adding a layer of mulch to the soil will also reduce splashing. Control these factors by only watering infected plants when the top few inches of soil are dry, and by watering at soil level to reduce splashback. Water carefully: Fungal diseases spread when plants stay in moist conditions and when water droplets splash contaminated soil on plant leaves.Rake and discard fallen leaves in the fall.Remove infected plant debris: Fungi can overwinter in contaminated plant debris, so remove all fallen leaves from infected plants as soon as possible.Purchase resistant varieties: Invest in fungus-resistant plant varieties to reduce the chances for black spot diseases.Here are a few tips to prevent black spot outbreaks.
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