DEL.ICIO.USERICA GLASENER
Lessons in aesthetic pruning of Japanese maples
Thursday, November 13, 2008
As I write this column in early November I am enjoying the view from my office window of my Coral bark maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sangu Kaku’ in its fall glory with bright golden leaves and blood red stems.
But I am also thinking about how this tree might be enhanced with some select pruning. My thoughts on pruning are no doubt influenced by what I learned recently from Yuki Nara.
ERICA GLASENER/Special
Yuki Nara specializes in pruning Japanese maples and conifers. She was at the Smith-Gilbert Arboretum to lead workshops.
Weeping cutleaf Japanese maple
Botanical name: Acer palmatum dissectum 'Tamukeyama'
About the plant: Many, including plantsman Ozzie Johnson of Atlanta, consider this Japanese maple one of the best weeping types for our Southern gardens. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and forms a mound or dome of delicate deeply cut foliage with purple red leaves. In autumn it turns bright red. Most important, it tolerates our heat and humidity.
Use in the garden: Great as a specimen or in a pot.
Planting and care: Full sun or part shade in a moist, well-drained soil.
Source: Maple Ridge Nursery, 5907 Covington Hwy., Decatur 30035, 770-987-4066
Web site: Japanesemaplesandconifers.com
RELATED LINKS:
A few weeks ago at the suggestion of Norm Mittleider, who specializes in aesthetic pruning of ornamental trees and shrubs (contact him at aopruning@comcast.net or call 770-407-1511), I went to the Smith-Gilbert Arboretum in Kennesaw to talk with Yuki Nara, who was here from California to teach several workshops on “The Art and Science of Aesthetic Pruning.”
Yuki defines aesthetic pruning as “the art of revealing the essence of the natural beauty of a tree.” She goes on to say that “We, as pruners, help the tree reveal itself and enhance its character. This journey is based on horticultural science and art.” While this approach applies to many ornamentals, Yuki specializes in pruning Japanese maples and conifers.
At this particular workshop she focused on Japanese maples. A petite energetic force, Yuki never seems to tire of explaining her techniques, and says that she gets energy from the trees and always feels so good at the end of the day, no matter how hard she has worked (I would love to know her secret). According to her, maples create lots of feeling. What follows are some guidelines for aesthetic pruning according to Yuki.
She recommends that when you choose a Japanese maple or for that matter any tree, think about what the tree will look like five or even 10 years from the time you plant it.
When pruning remember:
• Prune for a natural look to create space, going from coarse to fine. The trunk is coarse and the top part of the tree (the canopy and branches) is fine.
• Less is more. You don’t always have to prune off lots of material to make a difference.
• Simple is better (Isn’t this true for many things in life?).
Yuki reminds us too to quietly observe trees and try to understand the personality of individual trees, as each one is different.
For recommendations on Japanese maples that do well in our hot, humid climate I talked with Mike Francis of Maple Ridge Nursery. On top of his list is the weeping Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Tamukeyama.’ It tolerates our heat and humidity and produces bright fiery red foliage in autumn. Another selection he likes is Acer palmatum ‘Nuresagi,’ which he says is better than the common ‘Bloodgood’ because of its smaller size (15 to 18 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide) and, it doesn’t burn in full sun.
Erica Glasener is an Atlanta horticulturist and host of HGTV’s “A Gardener’s Diary” at 7 a.m. Thursdays.
Services »