By Joss
Lancashire,
United Kingdom 
I have a Japanese Maple in my front garden lovely and red in the summer months but a bit over grown I have cut it a bit last year but I really need to give it a good hair cut with out killing it help please.
30 Aug, 2011
Answers
I have done that last year it looks like some one on a bad hair day.
30 Aug, 2011
Joss could you add a photo to your question so I can see what your problem is. I suspect you pruned too hard last year...
31 Aug, 2011
thank you
31 Aug, 2011
Please post a photo as an addition to your Q
31 Aug, 2011
Pruning should only be done in winter when the tree is dormant. Even then this is usually only a very light prune to remove any badly-placed or crossing shoots to encourage a good framework of branches to form. I've 'raised the canopy' (removed the lower branches) on one of my acers to good effect but wouldn't prune the top at all. Prostrate-growing trees shouldn't be pruned at all they should be allowed to spread naturally to look their best.
30 Aug, 2011