How to Keep Maple Trees Small
- 1). Research the variety of maple you wish to control. How tall does it get? Is it growing in the proper soil to reach this height? How fast does it grow? If the tree only grows 2 inches to 3 inches per year, you may have less work than if it grows 12 inches during the summer months.
- 2). Prune the tree every year until it reaches the desired height. You will now have to continue cutting the tree back below that mark each fall or early spring, allowing for new growth over the warmer months.
- 3). Restrict the tree to a pot or container on your porch, patio or deck. The tree's growth will be limited to the root system that the container can support, keeping it from reaching its usual heights.
- 4). Hire an arborist--someone who specializes in treating trees--to determine how the tree should be pruned to keep it healthy, yet contain its size to the desired height.