Newly Purchased Acer For Pot

Question

Have just purchased an acer palmatum orange dream on line. I intend to plant it in a pot. However it is very tall and spindly. Can I cut it back to a more manageable shape, in order for it to eventually bush out?

• 

Answer 1

It is best not to prune your Japanese maple right away. You would cut off all the leaves that it needs for production of carbohydrates that will promote root development. Any dead or damaged stems can be removed at any time. Avoid pruning from late winter to early spring when sap is rising. Late summer is a good time to prune. Never remove more than 1/3 of the tree at one time. Here is more:

https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/08/how-should-i-plant-care-japanese-maple