Pruning Japanese Maples

Buds point the way

Maples are opposite budded; every internode has 2 buds directly opposite each other, with the next internode having 2 opposite buds pointing in a direction 90 degrees off from those above and below. The exception to this rule would be the ‘yatsubusa’ type maples, which by definition have many buds and very small internodes. You should expect a vigorous response to heavy pruning from strongly growing maples. They sometimes produce dozens of buds where 2 would normally be. These should always be rubbed out, leaving only one or two buds pointing in the desired direction for growth of a new branch or sub-branch.