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Young Maple needs pruning

12 years ago

I have a young maple with several main trunks coming off of a short 8" tall main trunk (under the clump of leaves). Three other main branches have developed on top of the main trunk and have shot up to just over 5'. The tree took a couple of years to really begin growing and has grown 2-3 ft. this summer. Is it safe to cut back the other main branches (all the same size 3/4") and keep one to develop a main trunk, or would that be too much cutting for this young maple. I would do this late October.

JK

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Comment (1)

nurseryman33
12 years ago
When the tree is dormant, remove that lower clump of branches. As for the upper clump, I would leave it alone for now if you have a decent leader. If not, I would select the best leader and then trim the others back to where they are 6-12" shorter than the leader, cutting just above an outward pointing bud, and rubbing off the inward pointing bud.
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