Promoting Crossing & Rubbing branches

[mdvaden]

Last week, I pruned a very old weeping Japanese maple again: first time was about one year ago. One thing that makes it so attractive are the twisting and crossing branches.

 

I found that for the first time ever, I started to purposely leave twigs that I normally would have removed. The difference being, these were saved because they are headed back towards the interior, or other branches that they will touch and rub against in a few years.

 

It seemed like the best way for the next 40 years worth of growth, to match the past 80 or so years worth of growth.

 

This would be completely opposite how most pruning books teach to do pruning.

 

In the past, I have retained crossing and rubbing branches. The difference in this case, was recognizing where twigs are pointed with the intent of causing a lot more rubbing and crossing.

 

From here on out, I plan to do this more often with smaller trees too, depending on what the trunk and branch structure looks like when I start working on it.

[born2trot]

I agree with that , its what gives a tree its individuality

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

especialy with regard to this range of maples, also weeping silver pears and contoneaster.

 

wicked tree md

[Steve Bullman]

Thats a cracking tree Mario.

[easy-lift guy]

Simply Stunning!

easy-lift guy

[David Goss]

Nice work!

I agree with you, on certain types of tree the crossing and rubbing branches are what gives it its own individual character and with weeping types it is nigh on impossible to eliminate this kind of branch structure without destroying the natural look of the tree. With small trees in particular i think it is pointless to remove these branches as they will never become dangerous due to the limited size and weight. I would only remove them if their presence is causing it to become too busy in certain areas if you know what i mean???

[slack ma girdle]

Wot no massive trees that make me green with envy.

[mdvaden]

This image below is a different tree.

 

A willow.

 

But this kind of self-grafting or inosculation is something I almost treasure in a tree if it's present.

[mdvaden]

Here is the Japanese maple of the OP, from last week, looking up from laying on the ground.

 

Certainly lots of ground to cover in the year ahead to get more of those twigs to cross through.

 

I opened the middle some to make space to get my body up in there for future pruning. At 15 feet wide, I don't want to reach in toward the interior from a ladder as much as possible.