Take off any dead, broken, or crossing branches. Clip them back to the next main branch they're growing off of. This should be done whenever it's necessary.

Pull the mulch away from the trunks by about 2-3", so it doesn't rot the base of the trunks.

Aesthetically, it's about what you want and how you want them to look.

If they were mine, the red maple would have branches removed from the lower portion of the trunk to maybe a foot off the ground so the existing branches would hang to just over the ground, and thinned out enough to show the trunk shape and branching structure. I would certainly not trim it up enough so that it was a tree form.

The green one, I would take off the low branch on the left with the wierd curve, the two lower small ones on the right, trim the 2 larger branches on either side back by about 1/3rd to an upward turned branch as an intermediate measure to eventually taking them off entirely, then take out the small branches higher up that are growing more horizontally. It's a naturely vase-shaped tree and you want to maintain that shape; the more horizontal branches look awkward and out of place, but neither do you want branches growing straight up on anything but the trunk.

I agree with giboosi. Good advice. But I would probably keep the larger branches on the side of the the green one, the third one. That would keep a shorter tree. If you want a taller tree than yes remove the side ones, as giboosi said, by thirds per year.

Thanks for the input. I will give it a try.

and leave the larch alone.. IMHO ...

and the green jap .. in the picture.. up near the window.. you have some stubs ... get rid of those .....

if it is interfering with the window.. trace back a limb a few feet down.. and take it out there.. and train other leaders to go around the window.....

bottom line.. you are in charge.. and as long as you make clean cuts.. the tree will heal .. and YOU can make it into whatever shape you want ..... as you drive around town.. look at how others have dealt with them.. and go at it slowly ... have no fear.. even if you screw it completely up .. you can cut it down.. and regrow the darn thing .... as long as you cut above the graft, if any ...

ken

Ken- As far as the larch. . .would it be better to leave the branches that are trailing on the ground/mulch?

>and train other leaders to go around the window.....

Hmmm. I have some wire from a Bonsai project. Can you train limbs on a "big tree" just as you would Bonsai?

I think the ground trailers on the larch are a big part of it's charm. Do you really want a Cousin It Larchipop?

You can train limbs as long as they are flexible enough to not snap when you're bending them where you want them to be, or until they're too tall to reach!

Looks to me like the larch was pruned before at the tips, and it responded by forking and making those multiple branch tips. I don't think those forks look very attractive, and I'd probably clip off some of the side forks, leaving a middle one that looks like it lines up with the main branch. Not sure if that will stimulate more forking, though.

I think that anywhere you cut those branches will create more forking unless you're cutting right at a joint where a branch emerges from the trunk or from another branch. Am I right, guys?

I would think that the upper branches will grow longer and eventually shade out the forked lower ones.

I would leave the larch the way it is. If the tips touching the ground start to brown or yellow b/c they're in contact with moisture, then may trim, minimally. Right now it looks perfect. It's weeping down as it should.

let me clarify ..

first .... the larch ... yes .. let it lay on the ground.... if you want it taller.. stake one of the top branches to continue up ....

second... i would train the maple around the window through pruning .... if you look close .... you have 3 main leads ... as in make 3 with your fingers .... you might go as far as removing .. completely .. the middle branches...making a 'v' ... it is just a form of in ground bonsai ... i personally wouldnt fool with wires and weights.. etc ....

here i will make my ideas easier... save it to your hard drive.. i wont leave the picture there forever

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top red dots.. there are stubs.. trim them back to the main branch ... also all crossing branches.. or broken ones.. come out first ...

the lowest .. i would clean up the tree to at least one foot.. maybe two .... all branches at the trunk ... i think others mentioned this yesterday ...

if looking out the window is important.. you would take out one of the two blue branches.. at the trunk ... whichever .. from INSIDE the house gives more view... do check it out in all planes of sight ...

i might take out the second blue next year .... and that would be all the way down near the lowest red dot ....

it might be considered sacrilege to do such .. but i would have hesitated to plant the tree in front of the window in the first place ... or that close to the house... another option would be to move the tree to a better spot altogether ...

in my world.. warped as it is ... i am in control ... if it doesn't suit my purpose ... prune it.. move it.. or kill it ... but i am in charge ... don't fear your tree... just give it some idea of what you want it to be ... if cut properly.. it will heal .. and branches grow back if you get carried away ..... as long as you cut above the graft.. if there was one ....

Good luck

ken

ps: opps.. forgot the purple circle.. i would take that all out... but its so congested.. i can really tell you how ... i would remove it.. in its entirety ... down low enough to take it all off at once .... at the trunk.. or main branch .... that being the end result.. but sometimes its more careful to make many cuts.. moving back toward the eventual final cut ...

Well, I did some work on the three trees.

>Looks to me like the larch was pruned before at the tips,

Guilty as charged. I staked the larch, and will train a new leader to get a little more height.

The trees, I spent a long time snipping a little at a time. The window is my bedroom, and the blind is typically closed. I will continue to work on these trees a bit at a time. Thanks for the input!!!!
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good start!