The Forestry Forum

 I read on the Cornell University website that the best time to prune sugar maple was late in the dormant season just before bud break. I had been told in the past that sap running from the cuts would attract damaging insects and disease. Any thoughts? They probably know alot more than me.

                                                                                                                                Dan

Pruning maples when the sap is bleeding is not generally a problem. It is typically too cold and too early in the year for insects or diseases to be significant. Some bark staining or sooty mold may occur where the sap has run down the stem.

I've pruned in late fall and wouldn't recomemend it. I think Feb-April pruning would be better. What I experienced was that I got alot of cracks in the young stems. Also, it seemed to attract the moose and snow-shoe hare. I probably pruned to young also.