How to prune small acer

[Lancstree]

This small (about 2m tall) tree has been pruned by my girlfriend's mum and she has been cutting the tips back every year which I think has resulted in it being really dense. My advice to her was to do some crown thinning to get a better structure but I've never really worked on anything so small. Whats the best way to prune small ornamental trees like this?

[RPA]

Little at a time!

 

Very easy to do too much and they suffer really bad.

[scotspine1]

My advice to her was to do some crown thinning to get a better structure but I've never really worked on anything so small. Whats the best way to prune small ornamental trees like this?

 

Lancstree, invest in a good quality pair of secateurs (Felcos) or borrow a set, preferably very sharp ones.

This is an excellent video on the basics of shrub and tree pruning, the section on thinning is very good.

 

Just click on the link and choose 'Pruning guide for your trees and shrubs' on the right hand-side of the page.

 

http://bellevue.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=19&clip_id=1498

[Lancstree]

cheers Tim