Japanese maple misshap
I hired some help with some ourside chores. The person though he was a gardening expert because he helped someone for a couple of years. This person gave my bridal Spirea a flat top. He skipped properly trimming my yews and went for the Japanese Maple. This was a plant that had a little winter die back that I had not clipped off and he "pruned it" to make it more round and to give it a better look. OMG! He complained that I bought a damaged tree because the trunk was too slanted and the top was lopsided but he "fixed it." I almost lied down and cried he turned my 6 year old Bloodgood japanese maple into a LOLLIPOP! He cut branches that were 1 inch in diameter as well as the smaller branches. Can anyone make suggestions on how to make it better. The tree cost me $90.00 in the first place when it was only .75 inch in diameter but a perfect shape to balance out the background of the house window placement.
The resulting water sprouts on the remaining branches are ugly. What is my first step in maybe repairing/selective pruning the tree back to some beauty. Thanks. Mark
The resulting water sprouts on the remaining branches are ugly. What is my first step in maybe repairing/selective pruning the tree back to some beauty. Thanks. Mark
Views: 3
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Marsh on -
Sorry we haven't seen any replies here yet.
Sounds like a heartbreaking problem.
Unless someone comes up with something better, I suggest letting it grow through 2009 and then start a long (multi-year)pruning process next spring.
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Carol Rothwell on -
Don't be too upset. I bet it will come back eventually. Ours was badly frozen two years ago and I was forced to cut back some major branches, but last year it grew a lot and regained the drooping look I wanted.
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Permalink Reply by Linda G. on -
Let it grow out and see what it looks like then next (2010)spring start pruing it back to a desirable shape, Never let anyone do anyhting in your yard except maybe mow a little.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Breer on -
japanese maples are very strong when it comes to pruning it will eventually grow back to a proper shape but probably not this year so wait and see
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Permalink Reply by Hamons on -
You would need to salvage what you can of the main structure. Waiting is a good idea. However, be looking at what the main shape is. Branches that are sprouting "water sprouts" will probably be best to trim them back to the limb as they never should have been "trimmed" If you were able to post a picture or e-mail it to me I woul;d be quie willing to help you map it out a little.
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Permalink Reply by kctomato on -
I agree with Hamons as this is the best way to proceed now.
Wait until a little later in Spring as we may have some winter damage this year.
The warm yesterday and today (jan 22 expected 60) followed by the deep cold that is supposedly coming may cause some problems with some plants bark slitting open. Let it get through all this cold and see what structure you have to work with in the end.
Dont worry about the bridal spirea. It WILL come back. They should be pruned/shaped/cut back (if you want) after they flower which is probably some time in June.
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Permalink Reply by Marian Mullins on -
I had a tree from the neighbors fall over my fence, well a large tree branch a couple of years ago during an ice storm. it squashed mine. i watched it that year, made a few snips here and there to make sure it wasn't forcing itself in the wrong directions with sprouts from the damage and this year, you would never know anything had happened, it's more beautiful than ever. so first year snip and watch, this year, enjoy my beautiful tree again. Need to trim again!!!
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Permalink Reply by Mark McRoberts on -
Dear KC Tomato:
I'm not worried about the bridal spirea. It will sprout again but in a couple of years I will continue to prune it myself. (by thinning the old growth not shearing it.). Thanks for all who have answered my call. I'm just going to set back and see what the spring brings.
Thanks for all the information. Mark
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Permalink Reply by kctomato on
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Mark
Of course it is yours to do as you want.
I still think it important to direct some of that growth this year like Hamons mentioned. Especially keep up with the "water shoot" effect.
This year you will have the opportunity to choose which branches will dominate in what directions. I am of the camp that Jap maples should ONLY be pruned of dead wood, if they are seriously in the way or injured in a storm.
Pruning for the long term is a wonderful thing to watch. I fell in love with it when I managed 2 acres of grapes 15 years ago.
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Permalink Reply by Mark McRoberts on
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It is amazing but I have waited. This year it leafed out so beautiful. Shape still sucks but I'm going to nip some of the watersprouts but I think that I'm still going to have a great tree. Roots and ground prep when planting makes all the difference in the world. Thanks to everyone on their advise. I guess patience is still a great virtue in life and gardening. Matter of face I think I'm going to plant my forest pansey Redbud today!
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