Silver maples are fast-growing trees that can reach 60 to 80 feet in height. While their bright green leaves and shimmering silvery undersides make them attractive landscape trees, their rapid growth means they need regular pruning to keep them healthy and aesthetically pleasing. Learning how to properly prune a silver maple ensures the tree will flourish for years to come.
Why Prune Silver Maples?
Pruning is essential for silver maples for several reasons:
- Promotes overall tree health and structure. Removing dead, damaged, and crossing branches prevents disease and allows sunlight to filter through the canopy. This encourages leaf growth farther down the branches.
- Controls height and spread. Maple trees can grow quite large if left unpruned. Strategic cutting shapes the crown and contains size.
- Improves aesthetics. Pruning creates an attractive form, showcases the striking silver undersides of leaves, and opens up views of the landscape beyond.
- Reduces hazards. Pruning removes weak branches that could break off and cause damage during storms. It also eliminates branches obscuring street signs, utility lines, or buildings.
- Allows access under and through the canopy. Pruning lifts low branches over walkways and driveways and removes interior branches for easier passage beneath the maple.
When to Prune Silver Maples
Pruning silver maples is recommended:
- In late winter or early spring before buds swell and leaf out. This makes it easier to see branch structure without foliage obstructing views.
- During the tree’s youth to establish good form.
- Every year or two to remove new growth that clutters the canopy.
Avoid pruning maples in summer when leaves are present or fall heading into winter dormancy. Pruning at the wrong time can stress the tree, leading to disease or reduced vigor.
Pruning Equipment
Having the right pruning tools makes the job safer and easier:
- Hand pruners for small branches up to about half inch diameter
- Loppers for branches up to 1.5 inches diameter
- Pole pruners or pole saws for high branches out of reach from the ground
- Chainsaws for large branches over 2 inch diameter
- Safety gear like gloves, goggles, ear and head protection
Quality sharp tools create clean cuts that heal quickly, while dull equipment tears and mashes branches. Disinfect tools regularly to avoid spreading disease between trees.
How to Prune a Silver Maple
Follow these steps for pruning a silver maple:
1. Assess and Map Out the Pruning Job
Walk around the tree and carefully assess which branches need removal:
- Look for branches that rub or cross over each other. These should be thinned out.
- Identify branches with decay, cracks, or insect damage. Remove any unhealthy wood.
- Select branches growing toward the tree interior that can be taken out to let more light penetrate the canopy.
- Check for branches obstructing paths, signage, buildings, or utility lines and target those for cutting.
Mentally map out which branches require pruning and think about what results you want – a certain crown shape, height reduction, etc.
2. Remove All Dead, Diseased, and Broken Branches
First priority is getting rid of dead, dying, diseased, split, or broken branches. These pose safety risks if left in place and can allow pests and disease to spread:
- Prune dying or dead branches back to healthy wood, cutting at a downward angle just outside the branch collar.
- Remove entire branches with cracks, rot, or insect infestations well below any signs of damage.
- Cut away broken branches just outside the break point, leaving no stubs.
Make clean cuts close to the trunk without damaging the branch bark collar – the slightly swollen area where the branch connects.
3. Select and Remove Unwanted Interior Branches
Branches growing inside the crown compete for light and crowd each other. Removing some opens up the canopy:
- Take out branches with narrow angles between them that rub together.
- Identify branches crossing through the center that can be removed.
- Choose some vertical trunk-like shoots called water sprouts to take out to let in light.
- Look for smaller branches lower down that can be pruned to give foliage farther down the branches more exposure.
Aim for evenly spaced branching and a vase-like form as you remove interior growth.
4. Shorten Long, Overextended Branches
Branches extending well beyond the main canopy should be shortened:
- Identify branches that stick out too far past the normal shape of the crown.
- Cut long branches back to just outside a side branch that points in the direction you want new growth to extend.
- Make cuts at a slight angle to allow water to shed off the wound.
This helps compact and contain the size while encouraging new outward growth.
5. Shape and Contain the Tree
Once unhealthy, crowded, and overly long branches are removed, further pruning shapes and contains the crown:
- Step back and visualize the overall form you want the tree to take. A rounded vase shape often works well.
- Identify primary scaffold branches radiating out that will form the basic structure. These are kept, while smaller shoots are removed.
- Take out additional interior and vertical shoots to create outward growth.
- Shorten selected outer branches to compact spread.
- Reduce end weights on extended limbs to minimize wind damage risk.
Gradually guide the tree toward the ideal mature shape for its location.
6. Clean Up Debris and Disinfect Tools
When pruning is complete:
- Rake up and dispose of all fallen branches, twigs, and leaves to reduce disease risk.
- Clean and disinfect pruning tools with isopropyl alcohol to prevent spreading infections.
- Coat any cuts over 1 inch diameter with tree wound dressing to protect from pests.
Proper cleanup and sanitation is critical for tree health after pruning.
Pruning Dos and Don’ts
Some key dos and don’ts to remember when pruning silver maples:
- DO prune to a side branch or bud facing the direction you want new growth.
- DO make clean cuts just outside branch collars without leaving stubs.
- DO prune back to just above lateral buds or branches.
- DON’T remove more than 25% of the tree’s canopy in one season.
- DON’T leave broken or torn branches – prune back to sound wood.
- DON’T prune too close to the trunk – leave branch collars intact.
- DON’T use wound dressings unless a cut is over 2 inches wide.
Knowing proper pruning techniques avoids damaging the tree and encourages regrowth.
Signs of Over-Pruning
It’s possible to over-do pruning on a silver maple. Watch for these signs:
- Excessive sap oozing from cuts
- Leaves wilting or turning brown
- Smaller than normal leaf size
- Thin canopy with reduced leaf density
- Slow regrowth after pruning
- Dieback of branches
- Sunscald injury on bark
Over-pruning stresses the tree, while pruning moderately maintains vigor and form.
Hiring an Arborist
For silver maples reaching mature heights or requiring substantial pruning, consider hiring a professional arborist. They have specialized skills and equipment to safely prune tall trees. Seek an arborist who:
- Is licensed and insured
- Is a member of a professional organization like the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
- Can provide local references
- Will perform only necessary pruning to maintain tree health
While an investment, a qualified arborist prevents improper pruning that can permanently damage silver maples and other prized landscape trees.
Enjoy the Benefits of a Well-Pruned Silver Maple
Putting in the effort to properly prune a silver maple pays off for years to come. Regular pruning promotes health, enhances natural form, reduces hazards, and contains size. The result is an attractive, thriving tree that provides ample shade and enhances property values for decades. Just be sure to educate yourself on proper techniques or hire an arborist so pruning helps rather than harms this beautiful but demanding tree.
