We need to cut back on the width of our beautiful Acer. It was bought for my 50th birthday... 17 years ago!!! It and I both have spread a little...please can you advise as to the correct way to do this.
Hi Mazza, best to prune during December or January when the tree is completely dormant. When you cut it back, always do it flush with an existing sideshoot or the main trunk if removing a whole branch. Acers don't really like being pruned much, so try to make as few cuts as possible - better to take a large section/branch out than trim lots of small bits at the end of branches.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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Hi Mazza, best to prune during December or January when the tree is completely dormant. When you cut it back, always do it flush with an existing sideshoot or the main trunk if removing a whole branch. Acers don't really like being pruned much, so try to make as few cuts as possible - better to take a large section/branch out than trim lots of small bits at the end of branches.