How to Prune a Maple Tree

Pruning garden and landscaping trees, like maple trees, is essential for maintaining the health of the tree. Proper care of the tree helps to ensure it will live a healthy life and continue growing successfully. Careful pruning of a maple tree, especially in its younger years, helps to ensure that the tree will be healthy and less prone to disease, pest problems or damage.

Benefits of Maple Trees

Maple trees are a commonly grown garden and landscaping tree that can be used as a shade tree, and to provide habitat for local birds. Adding trees to the garden also helps hold nutrients in the soil. Maple trees grow well especially in the northeastern portion of the United States, because they tolerate cold weather well. Proper care of maple trees ensures that they grow tall and remain healthy, adding beauty to the garden for years to come.

When to Prune Maple Trees

Prune maple trees in late winter, when the tree is not growing or producing leaves. The wounds will “bleed” or produce sap, but this is not harmful to the tree. The sap produced helps to close off the wound and limit the damage done. Pruning in winter means the tree will produce less sap, which reduces the energy the tree needs to spend healing the cut wounds. Pruning the tree in spring or summer can force the tree to spend resources producing sap, which can make it more susceptible to weakness and damage.

How to Prune Maples

Check the maple tree for branches that have died or been damaged over the previous seasons. Cut these branches back to the trunk or the nearest branch to prevent the spread of rot. Make angled cuts at the nearest branch or the trunk to limit the amount of sap produced and keep the wound small and easily healed.

Examine the maple tree for branches that rub against one another or impede the growth of other branches. Cut these branches back to the trunk or to the nearest lateral branch. Use pruning shears to cut the branches at an angle to promote healing and new growth. Look for branches that are growing at strange angles or that have shown weak growth during the previous season, including wilt and other problems.

Check for any branches showing signs of insect damage, disease or other problems. Remove these branches to prevent the spread of damage and disease to the rest of the maple tree. Shape the maple tree, if desired. Thin out branches to allow light to penetrate to the whole tree, which will promote healthier growth.

How Often to Prune a Maple Tree

Young maple trees need annual pruning. Once trees have reached maturity or are too tall to prune without a professional arborist, most maple trees no longer need pruning or need it less often. Dead branches should be removed each year, but maintenance pruning is not as necessary once trees have matured.

Maintain the health of the maple tree by ensuring that it receives proper care. In addition to annual pruning, maple trees should also receive fertilizer and regular watering. Plant the tree in well-drained soil where the tree will get plenty of sunlight. Take good care of the tree and watch it continue to flourish year after year.