Pruning Japanese Maples

Slanting Style

You could use this same method to create a slant style maple, like my beautiful Red Dragon. This would require that a second stake be placed directly opposite the first one, and the dominant branch selected as the leader is then gradually pulled to the side. The top of the leader must always be the highest point on the tree, and any branches that begin to grow upward, challenging that dominance must be either completely removed, or cut back to a side branch (using the drop crotch method) that is heading away from the leader. Branches growing down from the inside of the curve of the leader are removed, and a strong ‘back branch’, usually the first branch, will sweep away from the trunk, balancing the tree so that it looks natural. In truth it will become a strong branch because it will receive good light, and branches on the inside of the curve will diminish because they will be shaded by the outward growing branches.