How to Prune Maple Tree Branches: Safe Cutting Tips for Beautiful Foliage
A bit of careful cutting can keep your maple trees in top growing shape
When you look around at the trees on your property, they may seem like they grow just fine on their own. However, learning how to prune maple tree branches can make a big difference in the health and appearance of these trees. Pruning is a simple trimming process to correct or prevent problems and keep your maples looking vibrant. This guide breaks down why, when, and how to prune a maple tree.
How to Prune a Maple Tree in 6 Steps
Follow the steps below to determine which limbs you should cut from your maple tree. These cuts are listed from the most to the least important. Before you begin, you’ll need to gather the following tree cutting tools and equipment:
Safety glasses
Puncture-resistant work gloves
Hand pruners
Loppers
Pruning saw
Pole saw
Ladder
Isopropyl alcohol
You’ll also need to follow some important safety tips. While pruning a tree is different than cutting it down completely, you should follow similar safety guidelines. Work with a buddy, and never prune any trees near power lines. If you need to climb a ladder to reach high branches, be sure you know how to climb safely. You’ll also need to be hyper-aware of falling branches as you work. If you’re not totally confident you can do the job safely, hire a local tree pruning pro.
Finally, you should prune your tree carefully and methodically. As a general rule, you shouldn’t prune more than 25% of the tree at a time. If you take off too much, you could damage the tree. Pros will know exactly which branches to prune to keep your tree healthy, which is another reason why they may be best for the job.
If you’re ready to tackle this job yourself, here is how to prune a tree:
1. Take Out Dead and Weak Branches
Dead or dying branches drain your tree’s resources and are vulnerable to insect infestation. They’re easy to spot since they tend to have few or no leaves left. You can remove these branches whenever you see them and don't need to prune them according to specific timing. To remove dead or weak branches, follow these steps:
Locate the branch collar, the raised area where the branch joins a larger branch or the trunk.
Make cuts about one-quarter-inch beyond the branch collar. Don’t leave any stubs.
2. Cut Branches Around the Leader
The leader is the highest, strongest, most central, and most vertical branch coming off the trunk of your maple. You'll want to prune away any competing branches so that your tree doesn't waste resources on multiple large branches. Follow these steps to prune around the leader:
If there are codominant branches, select the strongest and straightest to be the leader.
Cut one-third off any branch within 2 feet of the leader to give it space to grow.
If a competing branch doesn't have many leaves, you can remove the entire branch.
3. Prevent Branches From Growing Too Close Together
Any branches that cross, touch, or rub are competing for space and can also cause bark damage or other injuries to one another. Cut off any of the following:
The smaller or weaker-looking of two branches that cross, rub, or touch.
Branches that droop toward the ground, grow toward the trunk, or angle up sharply.
Branches with a narrow crotch angle (shaped like a "V") less than 30 degrees.
Leave branches growing at close to a 90-degree angle or those that create a "U" shape where they meet the tree.
4. Remove Low-Hanging Branches
As your maple tree grows, removing the lowest branches can help lift your tree's crown and encourage the trunk to grow straight and strong. To do this, simply cut enough lower branches so you can walk under the tree safely.
5. Saw Off Suckers and Water Sprouts
Suckers are smaller tree sprouts that grow from your maple tree's roots near its base. Water sprouts are similar, but they come out of the side of the trunk. Both types of sprout growth can limit the growth of the main tree, so use a saw to cut them off if you see them.
6. Balance Your Tree
If you notice any branches growing longer and faster than the rest, cut them back so they are even with the length of their adjacent branches.
How to Safely Cut Limbs to Prevent Tree Damage and Disease
When done properly, pruning won't harm your maple tree. However, there are some tips and specific techniques to keep in mind if you want to prevent damage and promote future growth.
Pruning Tips
Don't prune off more than one-quarter of your tree's leaves in one pruning session.
Prune from the top down so you can pace yourself and avoid removing too much.
If your tree is tall enough to warrant a ladder, work with a buddy for safety.
Sterilize your tools with isopropyl alcohol between cuts.
Make all cuts parallel to the trunk. Non-parallel angles let water collect on wounds.
Use loppers to cut through any branch, twig, water sprout, or sucker less than a half-inch in diameter.
Shorten branches with a diameter of more than half that of the trunk.
After removing a branch, cut the stub from below so it barely protrudes from the collar.
Avoid cutting the branch collar, as this can leave a wound.
Avoid applying tree paint or wound dressing, which can prevent maples from healing naturally.
How to Cut Heavy Branches
The three-cut method is the best technique for cutting back a heavy branch. It involves making three cuts with your lopping shears or hand pruners:
One foot from the branch collar, make a cut that goes halfway through the branch.
Next, make a complete cut a couple of inches farther away from the trunk.
Make your last cut slightly beyond the branch collar, sawing through until the branch snaps off under its own weight.
The branch should snap off without tearing any bark off the tree trunk. You’ll want to leave all the bark on the tree for protection.
Why It’s Important to Prune a Maple Tree
When pruning maple trees of any species, they tend to ooze sap more profusely than most other plants. The oozing sap may make you feel like you're injuring your plant. On the contrary, there are several good reasons to prune trees beyond simple aesthetics:
1. Address Wounds
Damaged branches are vulnerable entry spots for pathogens and pests. Pruning these areas helps keep infestations out, prevent infection, and strengthen the branches you leave alone.
2. Create Breathing Room
Cutting a maple tree back thins it out. This process increases airflow through its branches so they stay clean, dry, and free of harmful fungi.
3. Let in Light
Thinning out a maple also creates more room for sunlight to reach leaves that usually aren’t exposed.
4. Promote New Growth
Nature has designed plant roots and shoots to stay balanced. When you prune shoots, the tree devotes more resources to growing new ones.
When to Prune a Maple Tree
Your timing should vary based on the age of your tree. You should not prune a maple tree until its third year of life so it can get established and retain enough leaves to feed itself. In its third summer, start pruning your maple tree every other year or any year you see dead branches. Once a tree is 10 years old, you'll only need to prune it every five years.
What Time of Year Should You Prune Maple Trees?
The best time to trim maple trees is between mid-July and late August. This timeframe makes them unique among deciduous species, most of which are pruned while dormant in winter. Maples leak sap when pruned, which accounts for this difference. The sap flow slows late in the summer, allowing trees to retain more nutrients and fully heal before harsh winter conditions set in.
DIY vs. Hire a Pro
If you want to prune a maple tree yourself, you'll need the right tools for the job. Expect to pay anywhere from $455 to $1,150, or about $800 on average, for the equipment and any required dumping fees. If you already have the equipment, DIY pruning is practically free.
Even if you have the right equipment, you may still wish to hire a professional arborist near you. Improper pruning can cause serious damage, and larger trees may involve climbing to dangerous heights to do the job. A pro can ensure your tree is taken care of with no risk to you.
How Much Does It Cost to Prune a Maple Tree?
The cost to prune a tree ranges from $75 for small saplings to $1,800 for trees taller than 60 feet. Large trees are more difficult to prune, which increases labor costs. If you plan to do the pruning yourself, expect to pay an average of $800 for the necessary equipment and dumping fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you should trim the lower branches of your maple tree for safety. Trimming maple trees as they grow helps lift the crown and canopy and trains it to grow straight up. A good rule of thumb is to prune enough branches to leave 6 feet of clearance under the tree.
No, you should never top maple trees. Topping injures the tree and leads to the rapid growth of a weak canopy, which can be hazardous to rooftops and utility lines. Removing the crown can also leave the interior bark vulnerable to sun damage, leading to insects and disease. A topped tree can also reduce property value and permanently damage the appearance of a tree.
You can never truly stop a maple tree from growing taller, but you can rein in its growth by pruning. Proper pruning helps maintain a safe size for your tree without causing permanent damage. It’s important to start pruning a tree while it’s young, long before it becomes a problem. Otherwise, you may be left with too many hazardous branches to remove at once.
Tapping a maple does not hurt the tree, though it does create a wound. If tapped properly, the tree can easily recover from the wound within about one year without becoming vulnerable to infestation. Commercial maple syrup producers have the training needed to tap trees properly, and you should only do so if you know what you’re doing.
You can keep a maple tree healthy through regular pruning, watering, and fertilization. If you hire a professional arborist or local tree service to prune your tree, you may be able to pay for a deep root fertilization treatment to ensure the healthy growth of your maple tree. This treatment costs about $50 to $300.