Trimming away the twiggy offshoots can free up energy for the rapid growth of the main trunk and branches. Though it might seem counterintuitive, pruning can spur faster growth, especially when your tree is still young. #3: Prune Sparingly When Your Japanese Maple is Young This will limit aboveground growth and help keep your Japanese Maple small. Do this a few weeks before bud break, clipping off roughly ⅓ of the root ball each time. Once the plant is as big as you like it, start pruning the roots every few years.Do this before it starts to leaf out for the season. While your tree is still growing to its desired size, repot it into a bigger container every 3 years or so.Always choose a container with drainage holes, and don’t place a saucer underneath that will accumulate water.Without the insulation of the earth, they’ll need at least partial shelter, such as a cold frame or greenhouse. Give the roots extra protection in the winter if you live in USDA Zone 5 or lower.We’ve got a longer article on growing Japanese Maples in containers here, but we can share a few important tips now: Though you want your Japanese Maple to stay compact, you need to give it room to settle into its new home. It stops the roots from spreading past a certain point, which also limits how much the branches can grow.Ĭhoose a pot that’s about twice as wide as the existing root mass of your plant. Container gardening is a simple way to keep your Japanese Maple small. One reason there are so many short cultivars of this plant is that it’s very popular among bonsai enthusiasts. #2: Grow Your Japanese Maple in a Container After we review our general tips for controlling Japanese Maple size, we’ll review a few dwarf varieties good for smaller gardens. Others are tiny cultivars that top out at hip height. Some are only slightly shorter than a standard Japanese Maple. The good news for you is that there are a huge number of different Japanese Maples, including lots of dwarf varieties. There are some ways you can keep a Japanese Maple toward the lower end of its size range (and we’ll discuss them below), but it’s far easier if you pick a naturally shorter tree. However, a tree’s mature height and width are determined to a large extent by genetics. They pick the tree that they think looks prettiest, figuring they can keep it small by trimming it back. This may sound a bit obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people skip this step. #1: Choose a Small Japanese Maple Variety Without further ado, here are our 6 key tips for keeping a Japanese Maple small. Trying to force it to grow unnaturally will only mess up its shape, and it won’t stop it from growing bigger in the long run. If you’re pruning your plant to keep it from getting too big, make sure to work with its natural growth pattern. To do it right, you’ll need to start planning even before you buy your tree. Keeping a Japanese Maple small is a long-term project. You can also keep your Japanese Maple small by growing it in a container instead of the ground, and careful pruning can also help. There are lots of dwarf varieties bred to stay compact even when mature. The first and most important step is to start with a naturally smaller Japanese Maple. What are your options if you prefer a shorter, more slender plant? This article will introduce you to the top 6 ways to keep your Japanese Maple small. How can you get your Japanese Maple to stay compact? These trees appear so delicate and airy when young that some gardeners can be unprepared for how large they can grow.
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