The Japanese maple is a common name referring to a species of trees or shrubs under the scientific name Acer palmatum ... cultivars like 'Bloodgood,' 'Osakazuki,' and 'Waterfall' can differ ...

and your trimming technique depends on the kind of growth pattern your tree has. There are two types of Japanese maple growth patterns: upright (Acer palmatum) varieties like 'Bloodgood' that are ...