Hello everyone,

I have a vine maple (Acer circinatum) that is about 15' tall with 5
stems that almost touch at the base. The stems are about 4-5" dia each.
It's growing behind a retaining wall and probably doesn't get enough
water in the summer. Two of the stems died early this summer while I
was away for a while when it was unusually hot. The other 3 survived and
appear to be ok. Could someone please help me with pruning away the 2
dead stems?

1) First, I assume the stems are all connected somehow underground to
common roots so that what I do to one affects them all. Is that right?
Otherwise the rest of the questions won't matter

2) Is this a good time to remove them, or should I wait until later in
the winter? I'm near Portland, OR and the leaves are off now.

3) I want to make the first cut high to reduce the weight and then make
a final cut. Should the final cut be as close to the ground as possible
or is there a best place to cut them?

4) Is it necessary to treat the exposed wood?

Thanks for any help.

Dean Riechman

If the branches are really dead then there is nothing you could do to them
that would harm the tree. They can be removed at any time and waterproofing
seems to be of no benefit. The double cutting you suggest is the best method
and avoids tears below the cut. Six inches above ground would be about
right. At 15' it is a good specimen of that species~~though others might
disagree. Its growth suggests that at some time in the past it has either
been cut or died, down to ground level. Best Wishes.
"Dean Riechman" wrote in message
...
Hello everyone,

I have a vine maple (Acer circinatum) that is about 15' tall with 5
stems that almost touch at the base. The stems are about 4-5" dia each.
It's growing behind a retaining wall and probably doesn't get enough
water in the summer. Two of the stems died early this summer while I
was away for a while when it was unusually hot. The other 3 survived and
appear to be ok. Could someone please help me with pruning away the 2
dead stems?

1) First, I assume the stems are all connected somehow underground to
common roots so that what I do to one affects them all. Is that right?
Otherwise the rest of the questions won't matter

2) Is this a good time to remove them, or should I wait until later in
the winter? I'm near Portland, OR and the leaves are off now.

3) I want to make the first cut high to reduce the weight and then make
a final cut. Should the final cut be as close to the ground as possible
or is there a best place to cut them?

4) Is it necessary to treat the exposed wood?

Thanks for any help.

Dean Riechman

Thank you, Brian. I will cut the trunks at about 6" and leave the wood
untreated as you suggested.

At 15' it is a good specimen of that species~~though others might
disagree.

I believe it is at least 25 years old. I have two of them and they both
seem to have peaked at about the same height. Growing conditions may
not be ideal though.

Its growth suggests that at some time in the past it has either
been cut or died, down to ground level.

It was probably pruned or trained so the trunks grew in a more-or-less
straight line to fit in the small space. I believe that it always had
multiple trunks (stems, branches?) though. They grow natively here, and
I see some in the woods that have a single trunk and others with
multiple trunks. Both have identical leaves and samaras so I am not
sure is they are varieties of the species or if some condition triggers
the different behavior.

Best regards,
Dean

Thank you, Brian. I will cut the trunks at about 6" and leave the wood
untreated as you suggested.

At 15' it is a good specimen of that species~~though others might
disagree.

I believe it is at least 25 years old. I have two of them and they both
seem to have peaked at about the same height. Growing conditions may
not be ideal though.

Its growth suggests that at some time in the past it has either
been cut or died, down to ground level.

It was probably pruned or trained so the trunks grew in a more-or-less
straight line to fit in the small space. I believe that it always had
multiple trunks (stems, branches?) though. They grow natively here, and
I see some in the woods that have a single trunk and others with
multiple trunks. Both have identical leaves and samaras so I am not
sure is they are varieties of the species or if some condition triggers
the different behavior.

Best regards,
Dean

Thank you, Brian. I will cut the trunks at about 6" and leave the wood
untreated as you suggested.

At 15' it is a good specimen of that species~~though others might
disagree.

I believe it is at least 25 years old. I have two of them and they both
seem to have peaked at about the same height. Growing conditions may
not be ideal though.

Its growth suggests that at some time in the past it has either
been cut or died, down to ground level.

It was probably pruned or trained so the trunks grew in a more-or-less
straight line to fit in the small space. I believe that it always had
multiple trunks (stems, branches?) though. They grow natively here, and
I see some in the woods that have a single trunk and others with
multiple trunks. Both have identical leaves and samaras so I am not
sure is they are varieties of the species or if some condition triggers
the different behavior.

Best regards,
Dean

Hi Dean

Maples of all types will bleed sap profusely if pruned when dormant.
Wait for it to leaf out fully and then prune it.

If there is not a viable cambium (cut the bark with a sharp knife to
see if there is any green) and if there is none then go ahead and cut
the deadwood,

Derryl


I have a vine maple (Acer circinatum) that is about 15' tall with 5
stems that almost touch at the base. The stems are about 4-5" dia each.
It's growing behind a retaining wall and probably doesn't get enough
water in the summer. Two of the stems died early this summer while I
was away for a while when it was unusually hot. The other 3 survived and
appear to be ok. Could someone please help me with pruning away the 2
dead stems?

1) First, I assume the stems are all connected somehow underground to
common roots so that what I do to one affects them all. Is that right?
Otherwise the rest of the questions won't matter

2) Is this a good time to remove them, or should I wait until later in
the winter? I'm near Portland, OR and the leaves are off now.

3) I want to make the first cut high to reduce the weight and then make
a final cut. Should the final cut be as close to the ground as possible
or is there a best place to cut them?

4) Is it necessary to treat the exposed wood?

Thanks for any help.

Dean Riechman

Derryl Killan wrote:

Hi Dean

Maples of all types will bleed sap profusely if pruned when dormant.
Wait for it to leaf out fully and then prune it.

If there is not a viable cambium (cut the bark with a sharp knife to
see if there is any green) and if there is none then go ahead and cut
the deadwood,

Derryl



Um, this is almost exactly opposite of true. Maples will bleed most
profusely when they're breaking dormancy - spring. I tie little string
markers all over my maples during winter, when I can best see their
branch structures, and then do all my pruning during their summer
dormancy - late July/early August - when I can best see how they'll look
with their leaves. I've never seen a drop of sap.

In most places, it's best to prune maples during the coldest time -
winter dormancy. I choose summer (which is relatively mild here) because
it's too wet during winter and I fear fungal invasions.

sam
pnw/Z8