Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Pruning Japanese Maples, 1 by Anna_Z

Anna_Z wrote:
I have 2 large Japanese Maple plants that I am overwintering for a client in my greenhouse. I know they need to be cut back, but am hesitant on just how to go about it or how much to take off. I am posting a picture that I took of them last night; I'm hoping you can see how each plant is "growing" in regard to the stem, etc. The yellow one is really just one long stem with side stems. The other one looks to be a bit more tricky, as it appears that the top growth stem has been cut out (or just never grew more from the top) and has really heavy side growth. Both plants are about 4 feet tall, and getting to be extremely leggy, but are both blooming heavily. Arghhhhhhhh............what to do??? I know with my own red one it was about half died out/dried out and I just hacked the whole potful back to about an inch above the soil and said "live or die, punk, it is up to you". Grew back really nice and full. However, this was several plants in one pot. These are just one plant per pot. Any suggestions on how to do this properly and not kill it? Treat it like it was one of my own?

Thanks.