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 Sycamore Maple - Acer pseudoplatanus
The sap of the Sycamore Maple starts to rise early in the winter, and the sap flow is at its strongest in spring. Maple should therefore never be pruned in spring, otherwise it may bleed to death.
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Pruning maple in June
Trees with long branches, like maple, add to the overall appeal of a garden. We therefore advise removing as few branches as possible. If it is absolutely necessary to remove the lower branches of the tree, June is the best time to do this. Make sure you do not remove the branches too close to the trunk, as it is better for the tree to leave the branch collar intact.
The sawing of thick branches should be done in stages. This avoids damaging the branch too much and prevents the branch from tearing. Start by making a large cut on the underside of the branch. Thicker branches should be cut approximately 10 cm from the trunk, whereas for thinner branches 5 cm is sufficient. The remaining stump can then be sawn off. Do not saw too close to the trunk, as it is important not to damage the branch collar of the maple. It is advisable to smear a wound sealant on the cut for protection.
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Pruning in October - December
If you want to prune your maple more drastically, the best time is between October and December.
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Double trunk
If your tree develops more than one top, these will eventually grow into a double trunk. To prevent this, you can remove one of the tops. Choose which top you want to keep and then cut the other as closely to the trunk as possible, making use you leave the branch collar intact.
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Avoid damage to the crown
If the crown of your maple has several branches that are competing with one another and are growing straight up through the crown, these branches could eventually damage the crown and need to be removed. Cut them off completely, taking care not to damage the branch collars.
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Thinning the crown
The crown of the maple may need thinning out from time to time, especially if the crown has lots of dead wood and the leaf coverage is becoming sparser. Thinning out allows more light and air through to the branches. The maple can be thinned out by selecting a few of the heavier branches for removal, distributed evenly throughout the crown. These branches can be removed as described above (Pruning maple in June).