How to prune japanese maple 'crimson queen'

Late dormancy: late January to early March before buds swell. Remove any dead or crossing wood back to the branch collar. Raise the skirt by removing branches that touch the ground (leave at least 15 cm clearance). Thin the interior canopy to improve light penetration. Avoid heading cuts that disrupt the weeping silhouette.

Annually for light clean-up and skirt raising; major thinning every 2–3 years. Crimson Queen is a weeping laceleaf dissectum that needs sculptural rather than heavy pruning. Its natural cascading habit should be respected. Prune to remove deadwood, lift the skirt off the ground, and thin the interior for air and light. Minimal intervention is the rule — never cut more than one-fifth of the canopy.

Remove any dead or crossing wood back to the branch collar. Raise the skirt by removing branches that touch the ground (leave at least 15 cm clearance). Thin the interior canopy to improve light penetration. Avoid heading cuts that disrupt the weeping silhouette.