Is it too late to prune Acer

Good morning!

I’ve been out in the garden and looked at all the plants that are growing. Fabulous!
However I forgot to prune our Sango Kaku Acer. There are a few crossing branches and a few dead ones too which I’d like to remove. Is it ok to do so now?

Many thanks,

Ed

 

Removing the dead stuff won't be a problem but I'd limit any other pruning. Ideally you would prune when the tree is dormant in late autumn to winter but the bonsai folk seem to get away with it even when the sap is flowing. If the crossing branches have to be removed I'd perhaps try one to see if it weeps, if it does I'd be wary to cut any more, at least that day. You may get away with it or need to do a bit of staggered pruning. A couple of my acers have already thrown out leaves but others are still dormant, so it would depend on what stage it's in.

 

Well I’ve pruned it. 3 small branches so fingers crossed. It doesn’t have leaves yet. Buds are forming.

Just out of curiosity there are some small branches that look like they have buds on but are blackened at the tips. Is that frost damage?

 

Acers are quite prone to dieback and if it's just the tips it probably is the cold. I would just cut them off.

 

I agree, that a lot depends on what stage they are at. If you are only cutting small branchlets then a little sap bleeding will not hurt. You can always do more in late May-June, as long as you are not cutting anything thicker than a pencil. Any bigger cuts will have to wait till Winter.