Cloud pruning anyone?
quercus_rubur
Posts: 334
I've decided to cloud prune my Snake Bark Maple. Partly because I was given it as a "small Japanese Acer" which is now about 10ft tall and just as wide, and partly because I'm having to play Rambo to get to one of the water butts and my spare pots.
Yesterday I pruned out some of the under branches so that the bark can be seen. I think for this year that's enough, but does anyone know how I should tackle the top growth so I can create a more even top?
Before and after pics attached. I know realise I'll have to tidy up back there!
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What a gorgeous tree! don't prune it...move the water butt
I think lifting the canopy has been good
but I'm not sure if maples' growth habit lend themselves to cloud pruning - I think I'd rather take out some whole branches, lightening the canopy. It would be better to do this in the early winter when the tree is bare and you can see the structure of the tree so you can accentuate its natural shape.
Can't move the water butt Wintersong. I don't have anywhere left to move it
Dove, I'll do that and see what it looks like next year
I've got a feeling that heavy pruning of acers at this time of year can cause them to bleed. A great friend lost one of hers that way.
Acers are so graceful, you could thin branches at the right timeof year but shortening branches to cloud prune would destroy that
Put a tap and a length of hose on the butt then you can still get at the water
Oops