Gardening Calendar
Gardening Calendar
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
Pruning Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum
As you can see in the picture above, the Japanese Maple changes in several color. As it does not grow very fast in the garden, pruning should be kept to a minimum.
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Pruning in March
The Japanese Maple sometimes suffers branch death. Any affected branches should be pruned as soon as the buds begin to develop in March, cutting back to the live wood. Do not remove more than you need to. The sap of the maple begins to rise early in winter, so trees pruned in spring are in danger of bleeding to death. This does not apply to dead wood, of course, as this has no sap flow.
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Pruning Japanese Maple in June
As a rule Japanese Maple grows fairly evenly. To keep the tree a conveniently compact size, it can be shaped in June.
Cut the branches back to a length that suits your wishes and the available space.
When pruning Japanese Maple, you should try to retain the natural shape of the shrub. It is therefore important to remove branches from all parts the shrub, making sure you do not create any large gaps.
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Pruning in October - December
Trees with long branches add to the overall appeal of the garden. If the lowermost branches of the Japanese Maple need to be removed, the best time to do this is between October and December.
Do not saw too close to the trunk. It is better for the tree to leave the branch collar intact.
The sawing of thick branches should be done in stages. This prevents the branch from tearing off, causing extra damage. Start by making a large cut on the underside of the branch. Very thick branches should be cut approximately 10 cm from the trunk, whereas for thinner branches 5 cm is sufficient. The stump that remains can then be sawn off. Do not saw too close to the trunk, as it is important not to damage the branch collar. It is advisable to smear a wound sealant on the cut for protection.