You probably aren’t watering or pruning the 75-foot oak or maple in the front yard, but mature trees aren’t maintenance free.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. While most varieties of Japanese maples grow only 6 to 12 inches a year, pruning helps maintain their shape and keep them healthy.

For gardeners who are lucky enough to own a Japanese maple, there's one thing experts urge them to do before spring arrives next month.