It can be tricky to know when exactly you should prune Japanese maple trees, but it is fairy simple as long as gardeners avoid making one major mistake in autumn.

When to Prune Japanese Maple Trees Do the bulk of Japanese maple pruning in the late winter or early spring months, during the tree’s dormancy period and after the extreme cold has passed.

Alan Titchmarsh explains how to prune an Acer tree Knowing how and when to prune Japanese maple trees is an important aspect of caring for these garden stunners.

Maple trees contain sap, which will “bleed” if the tree is pruned in early spring or late winter. To avoid this phenomenon, pruning may be put off until summer.

Winter, when trees are dormant and their structures are visible, is the optimum time to trim dead and wayward branches. But don’t go overboard.