'Best time' to prune Japanese maples to ensure leaves turn 'vibrant colour'

Gardeners are often reminded of the importance of pruning, especially when it comes to the care of Japanese maple trees, where this task is crucial for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it's key in maintaining the tree's visual charm and contributes significantly to its health and size management.

Pruning is not just about aesthetics; it's a vital practice that bolsters the natural allure of Japanese maples while promoting their health and ensuring they thrive for years within the garden setting, reports the Express.

Matt and Tim from MrMaple highlight one of the core benefits of pruning a Japanese maple, which is to "increase vigour".

They shared: "Pruning pushes a lot of new growth, and it helps the roots to begin expanding and establishing in the ground."

They also noted: "If you want your plant to put on a lot of new growth, pruning is a great way to do that."

Opinions vary on the optimal time for pruning these trees, with some advocating for winter as the ideal season.

Nevertheless, these experts contend that pruning should coincide with periods suitable for fertilisation due to the immediate growth response it triggers.

They suggest that the "best time" to prune Japanese maples is in early spring, around mid-late March.

The specialists further explained: "Pruning your Japanese maple during the spring will cut down on the time when the tree has open wounds since the tree is at its most rejuvenated stage."

They reassured: "A lot of people are concerned about the bleed out on the trees, but pruning does not hurt the tree. Spring is the time when the tree will heal the quickest."

Garden enthusiasts take note, as horticultural experts share that while you can spruce up your plants throughout the year, the prime time for achieving the best results is early spring.

They explained: "It's a nurseryman trick to prune in the early spring since the immediate flush will create the glorious new growth as well as the most vibrant colours, increasing the overall health of your tree as well."

"Pruning in the summer will decrease the growth and vigour of your tree while pruning in the fall can leave openings in your trees for bugs."