Pruning mature Bloodgood (?)

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Hi all,

We have a very large red maple, centered directly in front of our house, that I think must be a bloodgood. I think it's at least 30' tall and some of the branches hang so low that it's a huge pain for husband to mow around and under, and he's been threatening to just start lopping branches off. I know hiring a knowledgable pruner would be our best bet, but it's not in the cards financially so I was hoping we could get some guidance here and at least get the tree to a more pleasant and comfortable state (pleasant and comfortable for us that is). I don't want to hurt or severely deform the tree obviously but what info I find when googling seems to be aimed toward smaller or younger varieties of JMs.

Tools currently on hand are long handled anvil-type pruners, regular but strong shorter ones, a nice folding pruning saw, one of those pole-saw-pruner things, and a decent pair of smaller scissor-type pruners. And regular house tools like a bow saw, regular saw, hedge trimmers, chainsaw etc- not that I imagine I'll be using them. Last year I did cut all the dead branches I could reach, but that was it.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated! : )

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

10 years ago

Instead of hostas, consider epimediums. Epimediums are excellent part sun to full shade plants, are slow to develop colonizers (so work almost like a groundcover), offer interesting, orchid-like spring flowers in a range of colors and some species/hybrids are evergreen. Ad they are deer resistant!!

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Comments (7)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
Personally, I wouldn't touch a thing!! However, if hubby is threatening dire pruning methods, I would consider removing the two smaller lower branches coming out on the left side. Or........you could remove the sod and establish a suitably wide mulch ring around the base - far better than having lawn grow right up to the trunk anyway - and that should eliminate any mowing hassles and leave the tree untouched.
nnmjdklil
Original Author
10 years ago
Ooh that's a nice idea with the mulch gardengal; hadn't thought of that. It's a big space though, would require quite a bit of mulch. And I'd want to plant something there too but any kind of hosta would just be eaten by the deer. Something to think about for sure though, as taking the bottom branches will take away the shape I like, and I was already not feeling that. But yes, he's been threatening for a while and lately it's become much more serious. Just a few, maybe even just 2 like you said, but still... It will change the shape. : (
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Todd C
10 years ago
That's a beast of a japanese maple. I'd rather lose the grass around it then prune it. Their branching is part of their charm.
nnmjdklil
Original Author
10 years ago
Those sound/look lovely, thanks! I'm normally not a huge fan of flowers in general, preferring trees and shrubs that I don't have to deadhead to keep looking nice but those seem almost no maintenance of I'm not mistaken? They are definitely pretty and I love the way they seem to kind of pop up and hang down. As long as I wouldn't have to fight them eventually to keep them from taking over the grass as they reach the perimeter... Thanks again gardengal, you seem to often be a source of insight for me and I surely appreciate you being willing to offer it.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
Very low maintenance plants. You may need to cut back old foliage once a season or so but that's about it. Also rather drought tolerant once established - they are often recommended for dry shade areas, a notoriously difficult planting situation. And they stay pretty much where you want them. I've grown them for years and have never had issues with them extending beyond specified boundaries.
nnmjdklil
Original Author
10 years ago
Beautiful! Sounds just about perfect. We have a wonderful flower place around here that offers wholesale prices to the public-- "Maryland Flower and Foliage" for anyone in this area-- i'm going to see if they have them! I'm leaning toward the yellows from the variety I see online here. Some of them have rather larger flowers it seems, up to 2.5"! Yay!!