By law, you aren’t actually allowed to prune a Globe Maple until October, which luckily lines up perfectly with the tree’s natural cycle. While we might see the first frost around that time, don’t worry—these globe-shaped beauties can handle a bit of a chill.
How do you know it’s time to prune?
A successful pruning session is all about timing. Globe Maples have a very heavy sap flow during the growing season, so picking the right day is crucial. Starting in October, you can perform a “test cut” to check the sap levels. If only a tiny bit of sap trickles out, you’re good to go! You can usually tell the tree is ready for a trim if you notice these signs:
- The fall colors have spread across all the leaves.
- At least half of the canopy is already bare.
Try to avoid pruning when the sun is beating down directly on fresh cuts. A dry, overcast day is your best bet. A light frost around freezing won’t hurt anything, either.
How much frost can a Globe Maple handle during pruning?
The Globe Maple is a tough cookie and is considered very hardy. However, if it’s too cold, the sap at the cut sites can freeze. This ice can spread into the tissue and cause the bark to split. To keep your tree safe and healthy, make sure you don’t prune if the temperature drops below 23°F (-5°C).
When should you use wound sealer on your tree?
Because temperatures continue to drop throughout winter, frost damage can sometimes develop after pruning—even if it was warm enough on the day you did the work. You don’t need to worry about every tiny twig, but you should treat larger wounds (anything over about an inch in diameter). These usually happen when you’re thinning out old, dead wood.
To apply wound sealer, spread the tree balm only around the edges of the cut. It’s super important to leave the center open! If you seal the whole thing up, you might trap fungal pathogens inside, which can lead to diseases later on.
