Can I chop this maple really low now?

[Cajunrider]

I rescued this red maple last year. It grew well in this grow box. It now has several buds about 4” from the base. Can I chop the tree at around 6” now? The trunk above it is straight and uninteresting.

 

[Gabler]

When you say red maple, do you mean Acer rubrum? That’s what it looks like, but it’s not always east to tell from a single photo. If so, you could probably chop it down to an inch, hard prune the roots, and grow a mame-sized tree. They’re pretty resilient trees, at least where I am, geographically. A six-inch chop should be totally safe.

 

[Cajunrider]

When you say red maple, do you mean Acer rubrum?

Yes. I think that's what it is although I am not sure. It was given to me a few years back. It was severely damaged by the hurricanes and rescued from my abandoned yard last year.

 

[Gabler]

I’d imagine that in LA, you have pretty good humidity and a long growing season for the tree to recover.

 

[Shogun610]

Geaux for it

 

[penumbra]

Just expect a lot of bleeding now, but it should be fine.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Just expect a lot of bleeding now, but it should be fine.

I just did the same and the bleeding was profuse. I couldn't keep the wound sealant on.

 

[LanceMac10]

Let the sap stop moving before you chop, just a week or two depending on your climate.

I would probably do it in tandem with a repot if it was me. Looks like a heavy, wet substrate....if you leave it in this soil, the watering requirements drop dramatically with the reduced foliar mass....

I usually do drastic pruning around Memorial day in my location.

If you just collected this tree last year, maybe wait another growing season and do the entire deal in one shot next spring?

 

[penumbra]

I just did the same and the bleeding was profuse. I couldn't keep the wound sealant on.

You are absolutely right. There is no sealing of a maple cut when sap is rising. Sealing is futile.

 

[LanceMac10]

You are absolutely right. There is no sealing of a maple cut when sap is rising. Sealing is futile.

Have had putty fill like a balloon with sap before. Did not hold, despite a SUBSTANTIAL application!

.....and that was a Pin Oak......a Japanese Maple?.....

 

[dbonsaiw]

Have had putty fill like a balloon with sap before. Did not hold, despite a SUBSTANTIAL application!

LOL. As a newbie, I just assumed I was (yet again) doing something wrong as the putty was sliding off the tree and sticking to my fingers. So I switched to the green stuff with no better luck.

 

[LanceMac10]

Can still be a pain no matter how long you've used it. Keep your fingers moist....

 

[BrightsideB]

I cut a maple last month and it released tons of sap. Because it was the end of winter and the tree is preparing for spring. I’m always gonna wait now. Sort of feel bad it’s like losing a lot of it’s reserves for spring.

 

[Cajunrider]

Let the sap stop moving before you chop, just a week or two depending on your climate.

I would probably do it in tandem with a repot if it was me. Looks like a heavy, wet substrate....if you leave it in this soil, the watering requirements drop dramatically with the reduced foliar mass....

I usually do drastic pruning around Memorial day in my location.

If you just collected this tree last year, maybe wait another growing season and do the entire deal in one shot next spring?

Thanks for the advice. If the lower buds continue to grow I will let the whole thing grow another season. However, if the top starts to shade out the low branches, I am chopping it and take my chances. It is only a nice to have tree for me so I am taking aggressive stance to lower my number of trees to decent ones before I migrate up North in a couple years. No use in keeping this tree if I don't have a decent taper in the trunk.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

You guys use any homemade sealer for cuts?

 

[dbonsaiw]

Sort of feel bad it’s like losing a lot of it’s reserves for spring.

I have the same gut reaction, but not sure the bleeding does anything bad to the tree.

You guys use any homemade sealer for cuts?

I personally don’t, but there are some recipes floating around here. I just use the green paste.

 

[penumbra]

You guys use any homemade sealer for cuts?

There are dozens of recommendations, but one tube lasts me for 2-3 years so why mess with it.

 

[Bnana]

not sure the bleeding does anything bad to the tree.

It's not a disaster but it means the tree loses a lot of sugars. This means less energy for growth.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I once sealed a landscape dogwood after a massive cut back, with a torch! It worked so well I used it on a maple. Took a couple tries, but it worked.

Wouldn’t advise it however! . Wait. Patience is a virtue !

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Zerobear]

I rescued this red maple last year. It grew well in this grow box. It now has several buds about 4” from the base. Can I chop the tree at around 6” now? The trunk above it is straight and uninteresting.
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I'll say things you already know. Make an angled cut at least 2 inches above a bud, and use cut paste to seal off the cut to help avoid dieback. If I was doing this, I would not do a root cutback at this time, since you want to be able to pump nutrients to those buds this year. By the way, this has the potential to be a very nice tree!