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Please help on how to prune Acer

nishantkumar07nishantkumar07 Posts: 5
in Tools and techniques

Hello all,
I have this very special maple Acer tree in my garden. We moved into this house this summer but I estimate it’s 30-40 years old. It has lost its shape and I wanted to prune it back before the spring. I am not a pro gardener but can follow instructions. Can anyone please guide me on how, how much to prune and which tool should I use? thanks for your help in advance. 

Posts

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,744
    I'm no tree or Acer expert, but that doesn't look like an Acer to me.  Are you sure it is an Acer?  Do you have any photos of when it is in leaf?
  • nishantkumar07nishantkumar07 Posts: 5

    It is. It’s very old. Here’s the tree with leaves 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Leicestershire, UKPosts: 11,391
    It has been pollarded.  To maintain, every few years you remove ALL of the whippy growth coming from the 'knobs' on the end of the pollarded branches.  Acers don't like being pruned as they bleed, especially in the spring, so I would recommend you get a professional tree surgeon in to at least advise.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • nishantkumar07nishantkumar07 Posts: 5
    Thank you! 
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