Sweet cherry is a very actively growing tree. If you do not follow it and do not cut it off in time, then there is a high probability one day you will see a huge tree with a small number of berries on your site. Surprisingly, the more crown the cherry has, the less fruit it bears. This is due to the fact that dense branches do not let in sunlight, which is necessary for a good harvest.
There is also poor air circulation in the dense canopy, and this promotes the growth of bacteria, so without regular pruning, the tree can get sick.
Cherry is also famous for its growth, and if you do not limit it in this, then it can grow to incredible sizes and create a huge shadow on the site, which is undesirable for other plants.
First year
It is worth pruning cherries from the first year of life. Timely pruning of cherries increases its resistance to disease and increases the yield of the tree and the quality of the fruit. You need to cut the tree in the spring, after the night frosts have finally stopped.
It's time to cut the seedling when it reaches a height of half a meter. First, the lowermost branch is shortened to a length of 50 cm, the rest are shortened to its level. Branches located at an acute angle to the trunk are completely cut off.
Shoots grow back very quickly after pruning, but they do not branch off. Crown formation is carried out only on skeletal branches.
Subsequent years
From the fifth year of life, the height of the tree should be maintained. It should be no more than 350 centimeters. Skeletal branches should be no longer than 400 centimeters. You need to destroy only diseased branches, or those that grow crooked and interfere with others.
After the tree begins to actively bear fruit, it must be thinned out. It is best to do thinning pruning in the spring. You also need to regularly remove frostbite and rotten twigs so that they do not interfere with the normal development of the tree.
Pruning in the fall
In the autumn period, it is necessary to be especially careful when pruning cherries, because how the tree will survive the winter and whether it will survive depends on its result. All the stunted and broken branches are subject to removal. It is best to complete this work before the end of September, while the slices are able to heal normally.
In addition, it is necessary to remove all twigs growing crookedly, at an acute angle to the trunk.
Also, all annual branches are shortened by a third of their length.
A garden saw is the best tool for pruning cherries, the tree recovers much faster after it.
Pruning in spring
The beginning of spring pruning should occur at a time before the formation of buds and the movement of juices. The second half of March and the beginning of April are the best times.
Spring is the best time to prune skeletal twigs and decorate the tree. Also, in the spring, it is imperative to remove all frozen and dead branches so that they do not interfere with the development of others.
In the spring, it is necessary to maintain the optimum height of the crown of the tree so that the tree does not grow too high in height, you need to cut it to 3 or 3.5 meters.
