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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are disagreements as to when is the best time to prune a maple tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally, deciduous trees are pruned during late winter and early spring<\/strong>, before the buds or flowers have begun to open. Some people prune their maples during this season as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem is that maple trees are producing the greatest amount of sap<\/a> during late winter and early spring. The sap is under pressure inside the wood, so any cut in the wood at this time of year is going to release copious amounts of sap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this generally won\u2019t hurt older trees, younger trees may be stunted by the loss of so much sap. For this reason, many people prefer to prune their maple trees in late spring or summer<\/strong>, after the sap has stopped flowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trouble with pruning later in the year is that it may be harder to see which branches should be removed once the tree has leafed out. You may want to try pruning in different seasons to see what works best for you and your trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of the time of year, it\u2019s a good idea to prune away dead or diseased branches as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maple trees should not be pruned before they are three years old, as young saplings are still soft and prone to damage. Before pruning your trees, you\u2019ll want to gather a few items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may not need all four of the cutting items listed above, but it will depend on the size of your tree and, more specifically, the sizes of the branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use a pruning pole, chainsaw, or pruning saw for branches larger than 2 or 3 inches<\/strong> in diameter. Loppers work well for branches up to 3 inches<\/strong>, while hand held pruning shears are best for small branches less than \u00bd an inch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To prune the tree:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can, remove not only the dead or decayed branch but also 6 inches of the branch behind it. You may also want to remove some of the smaller branches and twigs to keep them from rubbing against the prune wound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it may seem like there are a lot of branches that need pruning, be careful not to cut away too much of the tree at one time. The University of Missouri Extension<\/a> warns that over pruning can weaken the tree, leaving it susceptible to disease and damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most mature maple trees are quite tall, sometimes up to 120 feet. If you have a large mature tree that needs pruning, it\u2019s best to call a professional tree service<\/strong> to do the work for you, as you risk injury or damage to the tree if you do it yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your mature tree is a bit smaller or you have more experience with pruning, you may be able to do the job on your own. Before starting, you might want to watch a tutorial video like the one below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Prune a Young Maple Tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Prune a Mature Maple Tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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