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Acer pruning

B3B3 Posts: 24,469
in Plants
How can I tell when it's ok to prune my acer? I want to take a few smallish branches (about 1" diameter ) back a couple of foot or so. It's in the ground. Don't know if that makes any difference.
Thanks Chaps
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,732
    what sort of acer is it? 
    Devon.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,976
    I've found they bleed unless preceded by a few weeks of chilly weather, which we've not had this winter round here.
    I had to prune one of mine in December 2018 (which was also a warm winter) and it bled for about 4 weeks. It's OK, but the leaves on the pruned branches were very small last year.
    The best time is December - but only if it's cold.
    If it's just a few branches you may well be ok, but try just one first and have a look a day later and see if it's dripping sap.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,469

    Heres a couple of pictures of it. The reddish bit is a rosa glauca that mixes in. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,469
    Thanks Pete.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    the technical name for what you want to do is crown raising or crown lifting, you want to remove the branches either to the trunk or to a point where two branches divide as you don't want stumps as this is how disease gets into the tree, now is the best time to do it as the sap will start rising in the next month or so and you don't want the tree to 'bleed out'


  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 5,994
    I agree we have had several days of cold weather so towards the end of this week should be fine.
    AB Still learning

  • B3B3 Posts: 24,469
    I'll get the loppers out next week @Allotment Boy or @treehugger80
    I also have a cherry plum that I want to tidy up. I keep it roundish but I missed a summer prune.   can I  do this now too? Sparrows eat the blossom  so I never see any so that's  not an issue. 
    Thanks 


    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,756
    Don’t prune the cherry plum in the winter as it’ll risk it contracting silver leaf disease. Wait until late May/early June. 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • B3B3 Posts: 24,469
    Thanks for the warning @Dovefromabove .
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,756
    😊 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







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