NS Gearhead
Veteran Member
I've got 18 maples lineing my driveway. They range from 6' tall to 8". Most of them are about 3-4 years old. My hope is to some day have them cover the driveway and make a nice "tunel" effect. What I noticed is that other mature maples on my property are tall and skinny. Got me wondering what's the difference between them and the classic maple that splits 4-5 ways at the 6' mark and makes a nice ball. Now, I grew up around christmas trees and my instinct is to keep cutting the lower branches as they get taller, and to choose the nicest top when it splits and cut the others.
I guess what I'm looking for is advice on how to trim them to get the desired shape. At some point do I trim the top to give a chance for the lower brances to catch up? Why don't the wild maples split into several tops?
Oh, most of them just look like twigs in the ground at them moment, so this may be pre-mature. LOL However, I think they've just been establishing roots and will really start to grow now. One grew 18" last year... until something ate most of it. : (
I guess what I'm looking for is advice on how to trim them to get the desired shape. At some point do I trim the top to give a chance for the lower brances to catch up? Why don't the wild maples split into several tops?
Oh, most of them just look like twigs in the ground at them moment, so this may be pre-mature. LOL However, I think they've just been establishing roots and will really start to grow now. One grew 18" last year... until something ate most of it. : (