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Pruning Japanese Maples: What's the right shape?

9 years ago

There's been a Japanese maple (although I don't know what specific type) growing at my childhood home that's well established but I don't know how I'm supposed to prune it.
This is what it looks like today.

After we made big landscaping changes last year, I tried to clean it up a bit and pruned it like this.

A while back I saw that some Japanese maples seem to be defined by being weepier with more branches hanging down. So now I'm confused. Before I do this again this year, what kind of shape should I aim for?
Or if I shouldn't prune it, will it eventually even out into more of an umbrella shape?

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Comments (3)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
9 years ago
Other than any branches brushing against the house or porch I'd let it be for this year. The shape to aim for is what appeals to you, but the tree does want to be a spreading, arching branched tree.

tj
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
It IS a weeping form and if you just let it be, it will develop branches that cascade to the ground or nearly so.

It looks like a number of lower branches have been pruned off at sometime in the past. Had they been left in place, the tree would have much more of an umbrella shape than it does now.
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Allison
Original Author
9 years ago
That makes sense and I appreciate the advice.

In the past, there were far more things growing around the tree and I think that caused it to grow differently.

In 2010

In 2014

I'll try to leave it be for a while and hopefully it will grow out nicely.

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