As your Globe Maple (Kugelahorn) gets older, it tends to lose that signature lollipop shape and starts stretching out into more of a pyramid. If you want to keep it looking neat and tidy, a little bit of structural pruning is key. I’ve put together a quick guide to help you get it right without stressing out your tree.
When is the best time to prune a Globe Maple?
The Globe Maple is actually a grafted variety of the Norway Maple, and it has a very heavy sap flow during the growing season. If you prune it while the sap is running, the tree can “bleed” excessively. This doesn’t just look messy; it actually weakens the tree’s immune system and makes it way more vulnerable to pests and diseases.
To keep your tree’s growth on track, you should only prune during its dormant phase. This window opens in late fall and usually closes by the end of January. Aim to have your trimming finished before the spring wake-up call!
What tools do you need for the job?
You don’t need a whole shed full of gear—just the basics:
- Hand pruners (bypass pruners work best)
- A small pruning saw (for thicker branches)
The rule of thumb is to choose your tool based on the thickness of the branch. Most importantly: sanitize your tools before and after use. Using dirty blades is the fastest way to spread garden “germs” from one plant to another.
How do you properly prune a Globe Maple?
Left to its own devices, a Globe Maple crown will naturally start growing wide at the bottom and tall at the top. While that extra shade might be nice over a patio set, it’s usually not the look people want for a decorative front-yard tree. Even if you like the larger look, a little maintenance pruning is still a good idea. Before you start shaping, you need to thin out the “clutter.” Remove any branches that are:
- Dead or brittle
- Diseased or looking weak
- Growing inward toward the center of the tree
- Crossing over or rubbing against each other
Once you’ve cleaned it up, follow these steps for the actual shaping:
- Trim back side branches that are getting too wide by about one-third.
- If the crown is looking a bit sparse or narrow, head those branches back by a third as well to encourage bushier growth.
- Always make your cuts just above a bud or a leaf node.
- Don’t leave long, ugly stubs behind.
- Be careful not to nick or damage the branch collar (the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk).
