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Acer prune or a haircut

B3B3 Posts: 25,178
in Plants
I have  an acer  which I don't  want  to  get any bigger  
Do I need  to prune  it next  winter?  I don't  want  to lose  a natural  shape . Or can I get  away  with  trimming  the twigs.

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    @B3, I just run the hedge trimmer over the twigs in the winter.
    SW Scotland
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,046
    I'd thin some stem over the winter to avoid the pudding bowl haircut look
    Devon.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,164
    I agree with Hostafan you want to keep the natural shape so please don't attack it with shears or hedge trimmer. You can lightly prune in high summer without it bleeding sap shorten the long branch ends. Save more radical pruning for mid winter when fully dormant. It is a long term process and may take several  seasons but it is possible to keep them confined to a space while still looking natural- this is what the Japanese do. 
    AB Still learning

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,227
    Yes thin the stems, getting rid of twiggy bits coming from lower down, making it more open and see-through. Don't spoil the natural shape!
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