Uploaded December 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Pruning the Acer palmatum Osakazuki that Monty Don helped plant in the BBC Big Dreams Small Spaces.
General Tips!
Don’t remove more than 20-25% of the crown.
Don’t remove branches over half the diameter of the trunk.
Always start with removing Dead, Downward and Crossing branches.
Prune acers in winter when they are dormant.
Ant’s Tips!
Sketch or photograph the tree in summer to get an idea of how it looks in full leaf so that you can plan what to remove.
Use bright ribbons to mark branches that you want to remove them take a step back and walk around the tree. It will help you imagine what it’ll look like without this branches.
If unsure, just leave it for next year.
Pruning the Acer palmatum Osakazuki that Monty Don helped plant in the BBC Big Dreams Small Spaces.
General Tips!
Don’t remove more than 20-25% of the crown.
Don’t remove branches over half the diameter of the trunk.
Always start with removing Dead, Downward and Crossing branches.
Prune acers in winter when they are dormant.
Ant’s Tips!
Sketch or photograph the tree in summer to get an idea of how it looks in full leaf so that you can plan what to remove.
Use bright ribbons to mark branches that you want to remove them take a step back and walk around the tree. It will help you imagine what it’ll look like without this branches.
If unsure, just leave it for next year.
