How to Trim a Silverleaf Maple
- 1). Prune out dead or damaged branches limbs or twigs. This includes branches killed or damaged by storms, frost, insects or disease.
- 2). Cut out any crossing or rubbing branches. Branches that cross inward through the tree instead of growing outward crowd the canopy and can invite disease and pests. Branches that rub can cause injury. Injury sites are common entry points for fungal infections and pests.
- 3). Cut off water sprouts and suckers. Water sprouts are weak, green shoots that typically grow upward from main branches as opposed to outward. They sap valuable nutrients from the tree and should be removed. Suckers are similar in appearance to water sprouts but grow out of or near the trunk at ground level. Cut them off the tree or pull them out of the ground.
- 4). Locate branches that are growing close together. Remove the weaker or smaller branch. As branches that are close together grow, one will inevitably lose the war for space and break off the tree, potentially causing damage to property or people.
- 5). Prune out branches that have narrow crotches. A crotch is the space between the trunk and the branch. Narrow crotches can hold pooling water and potentially be sites for fungal infection. Anything less than a 45-degree angle is considered narrow.
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