Hello: I am new and hope I do not make an error in posting. I have a very large maple with very small leaves. I think it is called a lace leaf maple. It was large when we moved into this house 22 years ago. I think it was planted early in the 1960's. There is a branch which is like a huge elbow and it detracts from the shape of the tree. I was planning to have it removed, but decided to do a little research before calling the "tree-man", whose judgement I "sort of" trust. I came across this site with good info on pruning. I am thinking of waiting until mid-summer - for drier weather, but also wonder about removing such a large limb. The tree has what I would call a double trunk. This limb forms the outer part of a Y on the street-side trunk. If it is removed the tree will be more symmetrical and will not range so far over the street in front of our house. (Currently large trucks tear off small branches whenever they drive down our street). I would appreciate any thoughts from those with more maple pruning experience. Susan
The tree won't be thrilled with having a major amputation but if the branch is being run into something needs to be done. Since it's a street tree it won't be a weeping laceleaf maple but might perhaps be an example of the non-weeping, commonly seen 'Seiryu' - or perhaps another form of Japanese maple altogether.
Thank you, Ron. I don't know what type of maple I have. It is green with tiny leaves. I thought maybe it was a lace leaf because of a picture I saw posted. But, I have learned that it is not. It is not red and the leaves are not feathery, but a standard maple leaf shape - though tiny. The tree is HUGE. Any idea where I can figure out what it is? I have done on-line research, but get either too much or too little info to sift through.
Probably a green Acer palmatum seedling, like would be seen in the wild in Asia. These are common in gardens here. Look for information about Japanese maple (A. palmatum), no particular cultivar or type.
Prune off part of the limb to reduce the weight before cutting back to the trunk. Don't cut close to the trunk, but on the outer edge of the 'ring' that will be clearly visible. It is that 'ring' which will grow around the wound and seal it It is immaterial what sort of maple it is. If it is interfering with traffic it should be removed
if a pic can be posted it would help. :) Make a proper pruning cut to the branch collar and use clean (IE. Lysol) tools. As Whis4ey suggested but with different terminology. :)
with pics is better,however you read in Faq? i agree with the advice above ,but the time that you have choise for me is not good ,for me good time is in autum after leaves down ,because in summer the tree want more "eat"and if you cut in this period one big branch the tree have one hardy stress...regards alex
