![]() The easiest way to remove that growth is to catch it when it’s still just a tiny bud and just run your thumb up and down the stem and brush those buds right off before they have a chance to produce leaves or a small branch. This is a High Graft Union on a Small Japanese Maple Tree.Īs you can see in the above photo this graft union is much higher, which means that this tree will put out more growth from below the graft union that will have to be removed on a regular basis. This happens a lot because gardeners don’t realize what it happening to their plant and they are not sure what to do about it. If allowed to grow those little buds will turn into branches and the branches will grow up through the canopy of your beautiful tree and pretty much destroy it’s appearance. So watch for any growth that appears on or below the graft union because the leaves on that growth will be very different from the rest of the tree. Of course the “weld” is a natural process that happens when two compatible plants are properly prepared and the cambium layers are lined up. Keep in mind that when a plant is grafted you actually have two different kinds of plants that are pretty much welded together. It’s important that you locate the graft union on all of your grafted trees because any growth at all coming from below the graft union should be removed. You can see that the rootstock has bark that is green in color and the desired variety has bark that is red in color. However, some are done up higher and you have to look for and beware of that as well. In this case the graft union is down low, close to the ground, which in most cases is the ideal place to graft a Japanese Maple. The above photo clearly shows the graft union on this small tree. Some are grown on their own roots, so the best thing to do is look for a graft union. How do you know if your tree is grafted? The great majority of most really nice Japanese maples are grafted, but not all of them. Pruning or trimming grafted Japanese Maples If it needs pruning, then by all means prune it. How good does it look when you are done with it?įree Today: Download These Simple Potting Bench Plans and Simple Hoop House PlansĪnd so it is with Japanese maples. if you are a diligent pruner your plants will be nice and tight and loaded with blooms and your neighbors will be envious. A nice plant with a few flowers is better than an ugly plant with lots of flowers. Unless you are completely cutting a plant down to nothing, it can usually be pruned at about any time of the year. That’s why I am adamant that if something needs pruning, then by all means prune it right now while you’re thinking about it. Then you cautiously wait again, and once again miss that window of opportunity. ![]() ![]() You don’t think about it again until mid spring or the middle of summer. Then come winter it never even crosses your mind. ![]() So you say to yourself “I’d better wait, I don’t want to kill my tree.” The expert says you should prune them in the early winter or late winter or whatever the expert says. You think your tree needs pruning and you log onto the Internet to find out when it should be pruned. Here’s the problem with pruning at the “Ideal time”. ![]() Doesn’t matter, they love it and they respond well to it. For the most part, I prune mine anytime they need it and that often ends up being the dead of summer. However, that’s not the only time that you can prune Japanese maples. Really heavy or severe pruning of any plant is best done when the plant is completely dormant. ![]()
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