bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Pruning Trident Maple

If you let the first flush go so the tree uses its stored energy and then in late May/early June defoliate (at least partially) to let light into the tree, you can prune back those long shoots then. The new shoots that will come from further in along the branches will have shorter internodes.

That way you can reduce the length of the overgrown shoots and increase ramification further back.

If you prune the tree now, just as it's beginning to come into leaf, it's likely to respond by putting out a burst of longer, more vigorous growth as it will still have all its stored energy but fewer fewer outlets for it.

17-Mar-2008	#5
Glider bonsaiTALK Adept Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: London Country: UK USDA Zone: UK = 9a-b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 249	If you let the first flush go so the tree uses its stored energy and then in late May/early June defoliate (at least partially) to let light into the tree, you can prune back those long shoots then. The new shoots that will come from further in along the branches will have shorter internodes. That way you can reduce the length of the overgrown shoots and increase ramification further back. If you prune the tree now, just as it's beginning to come into leaf, it's likely to respond by putting out a burst of longer, more vigorous growth as it will still have all its stored energy but fewer fewer outlets for it. __________________ Experience is knowledge gained immediately after it was needed.