Acer pruning

Hello

I have a small Acer palmatum Sango Kaku. The tops of the branches look very brittle and black (ie dead?). There are currently a few new growths lower down the stems. Where should I prune it back to and is it okay to do now (early April)?
Thanks!

 

Hello Quinns and welcome

It is difficult to see exactly from your photo. But, though I am no expert, as a general rule with mine, I first let them show their first leaves of the season. Then you will be able to see which part of the stem is 'dead' as it will be leafless and as you say slightly blackened. Then carefully prune just above where the highest pair of new leaves are sprouting from (or if you wish to prune to shape at appropriate spots on each stem, just above a healthy leaf). You may want to do a slight shaping prune at the same time and to remove any stems that cross and touch.

I have several, and they act much the same way as yours, I assume it is some winter die back or cold has done it for the tips of the stems. I have a few very large Acers which do the same though are too high to get up to prune easily.

Hope that helps.

GG

 

100% agree with GG. Living in Scotland I do get a fair amount of die back each year. Like GG some of my Acers are too big to remove the die back. It tends to fall off in time but does look a bit unsightly. On the ones I can reach I prune back to a live bit of branch. I read somewhere you should always be prudent when pruning Acers and be sure to use clean secateurs, not sure I have followed this advice myself tho. I would wait until the Acer starts into growth so you can be sure which branches are dead and also then see if the plant needs to be pruned to shape too. The plant is obviously quite young and has suffered a fair amount of due back. Maybe next winter you could find a more sheltered spot for it so that it fairs better.

 

@silu glad you said about your large acers having the dead upper sections, thought it was just me. I always thought it was the nasty cold winds that we get off The Wash here in the winter that contributed to that. I've had them in other more urban gardens and don't remember the top die-back. Are you exposed too?

And yes, they do look untidy at this time of year with the new growth about 1-2 feet below the branch tips, I always itch to snip them off but they are 12 feet + high.

GG

 

If you really feel the need to prune right now, then you can stop sap loss by using a seal and heal product. The Japanese use a putty that you can obtain from a bonsai specialist.
Best to prune in late autumn/early winter to allow new buds to form, and over winter them in a sheltered spot.
From the piccy it looks like wind burn to me.