Long ago, when I was young and stupid, I hacked my Japanese maple which was quite tall and blocked the front door... I think that hack job might have left it prone to disease... now, the last 3 summers, 1/2 thru the summer, it looks near death. Anything I could do to bring it back? i.e., cut the major left arm off? some kinda disease juice? I know how much these cost and would love to make this old grandma healthy again!
Tree didn't get water during one of the dry summers (no one lived in the house for a year until we bought it) and the big limbs died. I guess if pruned right, it could be a sort of over-sized bonsai.
I smile when I see container ships sailing past my house laden with stuff made in China
Somewhat related question. Has anybody successfully propagated a Japanese maple from a branch cutting? I've tried a few times as Id like to grow a few trees in my backyard but so far they all die.
I've heard it can be done but not sure what the secret is.
Fertilizers or other pruning juice won't help, you might get some short term growth, but that won't help.
Do look up proper pruning cuts, the previous cuts aren't typical and could be an entrance for decay and disease.
As for further reduction/shaping take a light hand and do it over a few years. The tree has already lost a bunch of canopy and with the summer heat loosing a bunch more isn't a good proposition.
