How to prune cherry trees? Pruning time and technique diagram

Cherry tree pruning time

Cherry trees can be pruned all year round, mainly during the spring budding and fruiting periods and before winter. This can reduce nutrient consumption, allow them to bloom and bear more fruit, and also help cherry trees survive the winter safely.

How to prune a cherry tree

1. Remove the buds and pinch the tips

The cherry tree needs to have its buds removed in time in spring. When its new buds grow to 3-5 cm long, the buds that grow too vigorously on the main branches can be cut off. This will encourage the sprouting of more side branches, thereby increasing the number of flowers and fruits in the later period.

2. Pruning branches

The big cherry tree needs to be pruned after it bears fruit. At this time, the main branches to be pruned are dry branches and branches infected with diseases and pests. Because the plants consume more nutrients during the fruiting period, they will lack nutrients at this time. Such branches will waste nutrients and must be pruned in time.

3. Thinning and pruning

At the end of autumn, the messy and dense branches on the cherry tree should be cut off, and the overly long branches should be shortened to increase the light transmittance and ventilation inside, which is beneficial for wintering and later growth and germination. When pruning, you must choose a sharp knife to ensure that the pruning cut is smooth.

4. Maintenance after cutting

The cherry tree must be carefully cared for after each pruning. The wound part should not be exposed to water to avoid rot. After pruning, ventilation should be increased and appropriate amount of light should be maintained so that the wound can heal faster and resume growth faster.