It is not usual to prune a young Prunus. You should stake it across the bottom, I believe, and allow some movement at the top to strengthen it. However, if the wind is so strong that it might snap it will need more support. I live in a windy area and find Prunus prefers a little shelter - are you sure it is in the right place?
It would certainly need correctly staked - both sides if it's very windy. Low down, at a 45 degree angle, to allow the top proper movement as @Posy says. It shouldn't need pruning at all. It's a very young plant, just starting out on it's growth.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes, it's in a slightly windy place but the bending over is more due to the fact that it's like a very long whip at the moment. I have it staked and it's straight now but can move at the top and will see how it gets on. I was just wondering whether I needed to prune it to make it branch out or something, I don't entirely understand this whole area
The top should be able to move. You wouldn't prune it. If you did, that has the effect of pollarding, which is done on more mature trees, especially in areas where they're getting too big and hefty, as it makes a smaller canopy. The annual growth from the main trunk is removed each year. A young tree wouldn't be pruned unless it was to remove the odd dead branch.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A photo of the whole tree and what exactly it is, would help too. There are several types of 'maple', from very slow growing Acers, to large sycamores which reach a hundred feet.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
It shouldn't need pruning at all. It's a very young plant, just starting out on it's growth.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You wouldn't prune it. If you did, that has the effect of pollarding, which is done on more mature trees, especially in areas where they're getting too big and hefty, as it makes a smaller canopy. The annual growth from the main trunk is removed each year.
A young tree wouldn't be pruned unless it was to remove the odd dead branch.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There are several types of 'maple', from very slow growing Acers, to large sycamores which reach a hundred feet.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Acer rubrum...fab tree.
Not named cos of red leaves but red flowers.
It does grow quite large.
Pics below of one in ur old garden.