Avoid bleeding Maples at repotting and pruning times.

Clicio

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According to Peter Adam's book on maples, if correctly done, the feared bleeding in early Spring or late Summer will be minimum on Palmatums and Buergerianums.
There is a watering variable when repotting and/or hard pruning the tree that avoids or at least lessens the issue.

Excerpt from the book:

20201101_143344.jpg

And results of years of late summer pruning:

20201101_143322.jpg

Book "Bonsai with Japanese Maples", by Peter Adam's, pages 17 and 19, Timber Press, 2006.

What about you, do you prune and repot maples only in the winter?
.
 

MrWunderful

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I have been wanting this one below, but for €99 plus shipping to Brazil it's only a distant dream...

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One of my favorite books, worth every penny. I ve read it 4-5 times and used his techniques with success.
I prune during leaf drop, or after first flush/late spring for big chops. Never any bleeding.
 

ConorDash

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“Bleeding” from spring pruning has been proven, at least arboriculturally, to be a non issue.
Its an issue for me, its looks weird!

But sure, in terms of the tree, I never experienced a negative. I did some heavy pruning during strong growth, of an Acer P, late Spring this year. I dont remember it bleeding (although to be fair, its now mostly dead or completely dead, so maybe don't listen to me).
 

Clicio

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I dont remember it bleeding (although to be fair, its now mostly dead or completely dead, so maybe don't listen to me).

That's so unfortunate!
Do you think it was caused by the heavy pruning?
 

Shibui

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I get bleeding of maples when they are pruned in spring. The closer to bud break the worse it appears to be, I also prune right after leaf drop as bleeding is minimal at that time. Seems to be no bleeding when pruned after leaves open and through the summer.
I do not know if it is detrimental. I do know that in the early days a couple of JM that were bleeding badly after spring pruning died soon after bud break but that could just be co-incidental. Light oozing of liquid from pruning cuts does not seem to bother the trees but when the liquid runs down the trunk to the ground for more than 24 hours I am concerned. there may also be some differences in response according to location and climate.

I have found that root pruning stops bleeding almost immediately so if you have pruned late and are worried a quick repot and root trim seems to stop the issue. I notice that Peter Adams mentions that fact also though he then goes on to muddy the waters with sealing and watering as part of the process. Root pruning is all that is needed in my experience to stop bleeding. Sealing cuts is good practice because it can prevent infection and definitely helps promote healing and reduces dieback around cuts.
 
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i have never worried about that and never experienced much bleeding on maples. Only on a buganvilia but it didn’t affect in any visible way
 

Clicio

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i have never worried about that and never experienced much bleeding on maples. Only on a buganvilia but it didn’t affect in any visible way
Considering your climate, I guess it will be the same here. I will make an experience soon. Thanks!
 

leatherback

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What about you, do you prune and repot maples only in the winter?
Nope..

ENd of august, mid-summer I did this:


:
maple_20200830_2.jpgmaple_20200830_3.jpg


And I have repotted a number acers already this fall. To be honest.. I do not see negative effects. But then again, my summers and winters are relatively mild.
 

Clicio

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I have repotted a number acers already this fall. To be honest.. I do not see negative effects. But then again, my summers and winters are relatively mild.

Let's talk about mild winters!
😉
But summers here can be brutal on maples, if I do that in midsummer I guess the results will be catastrophic...
 
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Clicio

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480 pages full color.
For many it might be a lot of money, certainly in the age where information seems to have to be for free.

As you may know, that's absolutely not my case.
I have a vast library of bonsai books (and many other subjects also), and I am totally convinced that this book is worth every penny.
And I really want it very much!
But the reality is, after a tough year of pandemics and very sparse customers and clients, I can't afford to invest this much in a single book.
If we add the import taxes and the shipping, it becomes a fortune (in Brazilian Reais).
😕
 
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