Content
- 1 When to prune cherries: spring or autumn
- 2 When is the best time to prune cherries in spring?
- 3 How to prune cherries in spring: step-by-step diagrams for beginners
- 4 How to properly prune cherries in spring, depending on the type
- 5 Rules for spring pruning of cherries
- 6 Caring for trees after pruning
- 7 Conclusion
Pruning cherries in the spring is necessary to maintain the health of the plant and to obtain maximum yields. When pruning is carried out correctly according to the rules, the cherry tree begins to grow only better and pleases with a large number of tasty fruits.
When to prune cherries: spring or autumn
Gardeners prune cherry trees in both spring and fall. However, the autumn haircut procedure is practiced less often, since it carries unnecessary risks.
Removing branches and shoots always weakens the plant.In the spring it quickly recovers, but in the fall it may not have time to get stronger before the cold weather, and in this case the frosts will cause serious damage to it.
Benefits of spring pruning of cherry trees
Spring pruning has several advantages.
- Rapid plant recovery. With the beginning of the growing season, the cherry tree begins to actively develop, and the inevitable injuries received during pruning do not harm its health.
- Improving fruiting. Pruning a fruit-bearing plant in the spring relieves it of weakened and too old shoots. Nutrients are used for the development of young shoots and ovaries, and accordingly, productivity increases.
- Protection from pests and diseases. The presence of diseased and weak branches, as well as excessive thickening, increase the likelihood of disease. Pruning in the spring improves the health of the fruit plant and helps prevent fungal diseases and pest attacks.
Spring pruning is less traumatic than autumn pruning
You can also prune cherries in the spring to form a crown. After the leaves appear, the cherry tree will immediately take on a beautiful shape, and the gardener will not have to wait until the next season, as with autumn pruning.
When is the best time to prune cherries in spring?
The timing of pruning in spring depends on the region of growth and weather conditions. Pruning should be done after the cold weather ends, but before sap flow begins.
In the middle zone and southern regions, pruning cherries in the spring and forming the crown are usually carried out in the middle or end of March. In the northern regions, the plant should be pruned in mid or late April. It is important to finish pruning before the buds begin to open.
How to prune cherries in spring: step-by-step diagrams for beginners
The pruning algorithm in spring depends on the age of the cherry tree. Young, fruit-bearing and old plants are trimmed differently.
How to prune cherries in spring according to the classic pattern
The standard pruning scheme in spring is used for mature tree-like plants that have already entered the fruiting period. The main goals of pruning are to increase productivity, crown formation and sanitary thinning.
The classic scheme looks like this:
- the cherry tree is carefully inspected and all broken, weakened, diseased branches are removed from it, which no longer participate in fruiting, but take away some of the nutrients;
- after this, last year’s shoots are shortened - this stimulates the formation of new bouquet branches with flower and vegetative buds;
- branches that are already 3 years old or more can be cut off entirely; you can also remove side shoots on branches that are 5 years old or more;
If the tree's height exceeds 3 m, you need to cut off the tops of the skeletal branches; the plant will stop developing in the vertical direction, but will begin to actively produce lateral branches.
Pruning cherries when planting in spring
The first pruning is carried out immediately after planting in the soil. This allows you to form the correct beautiful crown and also stimulates root growth. A diagram of how to properly prune cherries in spring looks like this:
- the seedling is left with the main vertical shoot, or trunk, and no more than 6 side branches, which in the future will form the “skeleton”;
- the distance between the frame processes is left about 10 cm;
- All shoots of the seedling that grow crooked or towards the trunk are cut off;
- They also cut off shoots that intersect with each other and impede each other’s development.
If there is already growth in the roots of the seedling, it must also be removed. It does not bring benefits, but it takes away nutrients.
For the first time, cherry tree shoots are pruned immediately after being transferred to the soil.
How to prune young cherries in spring
A young fruit tree requires special care from 2 to 5 years of life. A video of pruning young cherries in spring for beginners can be found online, and the basic rules for cutting look like this:
- In the second year of life, all dry, diseased and crooked growing shoots are removed from the plant. The branches formed in the spaces between the frame ones are also eliminated, and the lateral processes are shortened. All shoots that thicken the crown of a young tree are cut “into a ring” - flush with the trunk.
- In the third year, it is necessary to shorten shoots whose length exceeds 60 cm by several centimeters. Of all the branches that have grown over the past year, only 2 or 3 are left to form the second level of branches - other shoots can be removed.
- In the fourth year, the young plant is thinned out again, removing all improperly growing shoots that contribute to thickening. The branches are trimmed, making sure that the lower ones are longer than the upper ones, and the upper ones are 10 cm away from the top of the tree. During pruning, you can leave 2-3 shoots to form the third level of the cherry tree.
Thus, in the fifth year of life, the young plant should consist of a main trunk and approximately 15 frame branches, and semi-skeletal shoots should be located on the sides of the main branches.When carrying out the next cutting, all excess shoots are removed and dried and twisted branches are eliminated.
The diagram shows pruning options for trees of different ages.
How to form fruit-bearing cherries in spring
When pruning an adult fruit-bearing tree, the main goal is to remove all the extra shoots that take away the vitality of the cherry. The scheme for pruning cherries in spring for beginners is as follows:
- cut down all the shoots that thicken the crown of the plant, and leave only horizontal branches;
- cut off shoots that interfere with the proper growth of skeletal branches;
- if the main trunk rises above the skeletal branches by more than 20 cm, it is cut at the top by a few centimeters;
- last year's shoots are lightly pruned to stimulate the growth of new branches;
- skeletal branches are trimmed to the point where the side shoots begin to branch.
Rejuvenating pruning of old cherry trees in spring
For cherries that have reached ten years of age, so-called anti-aging pruning is required. First of all, it increases the lifespan of the crop as a whole, and pruning also has a positive effect on fruiting. The procedure is carried out in several ways:
- Cutting off the top. The video of cherry pruning in spring for beginners shows that in old trees the top of the trunk is eliminated at a height of 2.5-3 m - this stimulates the growth of lateral branches. After their appearance, only the most promising, even and well-placed shoots should be left, and the rest should be removed.
- Shortening frame branches. The main skeletal shoots are pruned to the point of branching, in other words, to the point where new young branches begin to grow upward.
When carrying out anti-aging pruning, it is necessary to act gradually and without haste. It is not recommended to cut off all the old branches in one spring - this may cause too much damage to the tree. It is better to remove several branches each year so that the tree is completely renewed within several years.
Old plants need to be trimmed carefully and gradually.
Pruning neglected cherries in spring
Sometimes pruning in the spring is required for a heavily thickened tree that has not been trimmed for a long time. In this case, the algorithm remains standard - all old, weak, improperly growing branches are removed, leaving only promising and strong young shoots. At the same time, it is important to take your time and cut off several old branches every year so that rejuvenation occurs gradually.
How to properly prune cherries in spring, depending on the type
The pruning algorithm in spring depends not only on the age, but also on the type of fruit tree. Cherries are tree-like and bush-like, dwarf and columnar; in all cases, the pruning rules will differ slightly.
How to prune felt cherry trees in spring
Felt cherry is a very productive crop that begins to bear fruit within a year after planting. At the same time, the plant is prone to thickening and rapid growth.Therefore, special attention should be paid to pruning felt cherries in the spring.
Every spring, the plant is trimmed, removing all weak and diseased branches, as well as shoots that grow towards the trunk.
Last year's branches, on which the main crop is formed, are cut by a third, provided that they have stretched more than half a meter. The height of the plant is maintained at 2-2.5 m - this is the optimal growth for felt cherry.
Strong side shoots of felt cherries need to be regularly cut off.
A well-formed plant should have about 10 main branches making up the frame. Side shoots of mature trees are regularly cut into rings, without affecting the frame branches and the central part of the crown.
Pruning bush cherries in spring
The bush variety is also characterized by high productivity, but is prone to active thickening and produces basal shoots. Therefore, you need to thin out the bush very carefully, otherwise the cherry will bear fewer fruits and they will be small. Pruning cherry trees in spring for beginners in pictures suggests:
- prune weak and broken branches, as well as shoots that compete with the main trunk;
- remove branches growing downwards or towards the inside of the crown;
- cut shoots more than 50-60 cm in length by a third, and cut skeletal and semi-skeletal branches to a dormant bud;
- thin out the branches that thicken the silhouette of the plant.
Any video of pruning bush cherries in spring for beginners emphasizes that the bush bears fruit exclusively on annual shoots. Therefore, young branches cannot be cut off - this will negatively affect the yield.
Scheme for pruning columnar cherries in spring
There is an opinion that slender and straight columnar cherries, in principle, do not need pruning. In fact, this is not so, first of all, trees need annual sanitary pruning, and, in addition, periodically it is necessary to maintain the shape of the crown.
The algorithm for pruning columnar cherries comes down to the following steps:
- after 3 years of life, every spring the lateral branches of the tree are pinched at a distance of 40 cm from the trunk;
- After the cherry tree reaches a height of approximately 2.5 m, the top of the plant is cut off to prevent it from stretching upward too much.
Without annual pruning in the spring, the columnar cherry will lose its yield, since even its elongated crown will be thickened with excess shoots.
A columnar tree needs shaping, despite its slender silhouette
Pruning dwarf cherry trees in spring
Dwarf varieties of fruit trees up to 2 m in height are very popular due to their compact size and high yield. Also, dwarf cherries are characterized by early fruiting; berries can usually be collected in the second year after planting.
The procedure for pruning dwarf cherries consists mainly of sanitary thinning of the crown. Weak and crooked shoots should be removed annually so that they do not interfere with the growth of fruiting branches. After 8-10 years of life, the dwarf tree is rejuvenated in the standard way - they begin to gradually remove the old skeletal branches, replacing them with younger side shoots.
Rules for spring pruning of cherries
Regardless of the scheme and goals, during pruning you need to follow time-tested rules. When done, pruning will not cause harm to the tree, but will only promote healthy growth and fruiting.
Preparation of tools and materials
To thin out cherries in the spring, the gardener will need several tools:
- a garden saw, or a hacksaw for wood - it is used to remove thick skeletal branches with a large diameter;
- pruner - a tool designed for cutting thin young shoots and branches;
- lopper - a garden tool used to remove small branches located at an awkward angle or in hard-to-reach places.
Before carrying out the procedure, instruments must be carefully sharpened. The cuts on the cherry tree should be as even and smooth as possible, so the tree will not receive unnecessary injuries and will be able to recover faster after pruning.
Before thinning cherries, it is recommended to disinfect tools. You can use a solution of potassium permanganate for this; it kills bacteria well and is not dangerous to plant tissues.
In addition to tools, when pruning a cherry tree, you will need to prepare thick gardening gloves that will protect your hands from cuts. If the tree is tall enough, you need to take a stepladder; it will provide access to the top of the cherry tree and the upper shoots.
All pruning tools must be sharp and sterile
How to prune cherries correctly
When pruning, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- Thick old branches with a diameter of more than 5 cm are cut down using a hacksaw; medium and thin young shoots up to 3 cm in girth are removed with pruners or loppers. Using the right tool for branches of varying thickness is important because a quick, clean cut will minimize injury to the tree.
- To access the upper shoots, use a stepladder. Climbing the branches of the tree itself is not advisable.First of all, this is dangerous, and besides, you can accidentally break thin young shoots, which will cause unnecessary harm to the cherry.
- You need to cut the branches of the fruit tree carefully and quickly, according to the selected cut location. You should not cause unnecessary wounds to the shoots and unnecessarily leave scratches on the bark - this will negatively affect the health of the cherry.
- It is recommended to trim the shoots at an angle of 40-45 °C, and the cut line should be 5 mm away from the inner or outer bud.
- When cutting skeletal branches into a ring, you need to make a careful cut along the upper edge of the ring at the base of the branch. You cannot cut the shoot together with the ring, as this may cause the wood to crack and a hollow to appear.
Immediately after spring pruning, all removed parts of the fruit tree must be collected and burned. Branches should not be left lying on the ground, as this will increase the risk of infection by pests and fungal spores.
Processing slices
To prevent infection from getting into the cuts on the trunk and branches of the tree, they must be treated with antiseptic solutions, for example, copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. After this, the sections are covered with garden varnish.
If you neglect processing, the wood may begin to rot in the places where the cuts are made, and abundant gum is also likely to appear.
Fresh cuts should be immediately treated with garden varnish.
Caring for trees after pruning
It is recommended to prune cherries in the spring, since such pruning is the least traumatic for fruit trees. However, even after this, cherries need minimal care. It consists of the following:
- All cut branches are removed from the tree trunk circle and burned at the far end of the site;
- at the beginning of the growing season, cherries are fed with nitrogen fertilizers, they help restore strength and increase green mass;
- Shortly before flowering, the tree is treated against diseases and pests, paying special attention to the cutting sites.
Additional watering after pruning is only required if the spring is dry and warm and the tree lacks moisture.
Conclusion
Cherry pruning in the spring is carried out to increase productivity and to rejuvenate an adult fruit tree. The thinning scheme depends on both the age of the cherry and its type, but in general the procedure is not particularly difficult for the gardener.
