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10 MOST Effective Tips for Pruning Cherry Trees (2023 Guide)

What’s the Best Way to Prune your Cherry Tree?

Pruning Cherry Trees wasn’t as easy as I thought! Expert cherry pruning tips didn’t always work and there just wasn’t enough good information online.

That’s why I created the 10 Most EFFECTIVE Tips for Pruning Cherry Trees.

These 10 Tips ACTUALLY Work & are Easy to Follow for ALL skillset levels of cherry tree growers!


Read THIS Before Pruning Your CherryTree

Knowing what hardiness zone you live in is critical to understanding when you should prune your cherry tree.

  • Related: Find your Hardiness Zone HERE

It can be the difference between having an cherry tree bear more fruit than you know what to do with or having your fruit tree die.

hardiness zone map for pruning

It should be noted that you should always prune your cherry tree in late winter/early spring after the ground has begun to thaw, but before your cherry tree has buds growing on it.


How to Prune Cherry Trees (#1-10 Tips)

#1. Prune and Trim your Cherry Tree Immediately!

pruning cherries

The first time you prune your cherry tree is critical to the long-term success of shaping it and growing more cherries.

You should prune your cherry tree immediately after you plant it in the ground. When you do this, you will want to prune it about 50% back.

Focus on pruning the branches in a shape that you want the tree to grow into.

Pruning immediately helps reduce the risk of shock, stress, and damage.

Also, it promotes well-established roots and plant growth. Finally, it expediates fruit growth and fruit size.


#2. Prune the First Winter AFTER Planting

prune after first winter

The first winter AFTER planting you will want to prune your cherry tree.

During this first winter, you will want to prune all but 4 to 6 branches.

These will be your fruiting branches. Fruiting wood is wood that will bear cherry fruit on them.

By pruning during this first winter you will be giving your tree the best chance to grow more and better fruit.


#3. Prune Every Year

pruning every year

Do you want to know how to keep your Cherry Tree healthy and fruit-bearing for years to come?

It’s simple! Prune Every Year during the dormant season. Do not skip a year and be consistent with how you prune!

You will follow the same instructions to pruning as you read in tip #2, but keep 6-8 branches and prune everything else down to ground level.


#4. Prune the Correct Branches

prune correct branches

When pruning every year there are certain tips you want to ensure you follow consistently.

One of the most important tips is to make sure you prune any branches that are coming off of your Fruiting Wood that does not point outwards.

If it points inwards, cut it. If it points out horizontally, cut it.


#5. Prune Dead Wood

pruning dead wood

In addition to pruning wood that points inwards, you also want to prune deadwood.

If the wood has no bark on it then prune it.

If the wood looks diseased or discolored then prune it.

And finally, if the wood is dead prune it. You know it is dead when no leaves or fruit grows on it.


#6. Prune Suckers

pruning suckers

Not only should you prune pointing inwards, dead, and diseased branches, but you also need to prune suckers.

Suckers are wood that sprouts from the base of the cherry tree.

Suckers provide no benefit to your plant. They take valuable nutrients and water from your plant. In addition, they do not bear fruit.


#7. Prune Secondary Branches

pruning

You will want to prune any secondary branch that is growing at less than a 45-degree angle. A secondary branch is a branch growing off your main branches.

The reason for pruning these types of branches is because they overcrowd fruit-bearing wood.

When overcrowding occurs the fruit-bearing wood does not get enough valuable sunlight to help them properly grow and bear fruit.


#8. Prune Fruiting Wood

fruiting wood

Not only will you want to prune non-fruiting wood, but you will want to prune your 6 to 8 fruiting wood.

To help promote growth, additional fruit growth, and efficiency prune your main branches 1/3 to 1/4 their original size.


#9. Prune Non-Fruiting Wood

pruning non fruited wood

If after pruning you still have more than 6 to 8 fruiting wood on your plant then Tip #9 is ESSENTIAL!.

Prune the rest of your non-fruiting wood down to ground level.

The less non-fruiting wood you have the better. Non-fruiting wood again takes water and nutrients from fruit-bearing branches.


#10. Don’t Forget About Distance

As we already talked about it is important to not overcrowd your fruit-bearing branches.

Make sure to keep branches 12 to 15 inches apart.

Make sure these branches are not pointing inwards.

And make sure to prune any branches that intertwine others. Even if they are fruit-bearing.

If all else fails then I highly recommend watching this video on how to prune cherry trees:


Other Cherry Tree Caring Tips

cherry care

Pruning is critical for plant growth and growing fruit.

With that being said you can also promote healthy tree growth and more fruit by taking advantage of a couple of simple cherry tree care tips.

If you follow these tips, along with pruning you will have years of productive cherry production.


A) Reasons Why Cherries Won’t Ripen

If cherries on your tree won’t ripen or fall off before ripening there can be several reasons for it.

One of the reasons is that your tree is not getting enough water.

If this is the case make sure to water your cherry tree more. Make sure to deeply water your cherry tree 3 times a week. I would recommend 30 seconds to 1 minute each time.


B) Cherry Tree Pests

One of the main ways to care for your cherry tree is to prevent pests.

One of the easiest ways to deter pests is to fence around it.

By fencing, you will prevent a cherry tree’s biggest pest threat, the deer.

A simple fence that covers the trunk of your tree is all you need!


C) Cherry Tree Insects

In addition, you will want to spray your tree with a pesticide to prevent disease and pests.

By spraying you will prevent aphids, mites, flies, fruit beetles, and ants.

These five insects are attracted to not only the tree but the aroma of the fruit. Therefore, they can quickly destroy your plant within a couple of days.


D)Cherry Tree Diseases

In addition, spraying will prevent diseases such as mosaic, souring, and canker.

Not only this, but I recommend cleaning your pruners or loppers before every use. One of the most common ways that disease is spread among fruit trees is through dirty pruners.

Learn how to properly clean your pruners in the video below:


E) Mulch

tree mulch

If you want to effectively care for your cherry tree then mulch around its base.

Mulching around your tree does two things.

  • First, it helps your tree absorb and hold water better than without it.
  • Second, it prevents weeds. The more weeds you have the less water and nutrients can be absorbed by your plant.


F) Fertilize

Another great way to care for your cherry tree is to fertilize it.

Fertilizing is pretty simple. Follow the instructions provided with the fertilizer.

Do this in either late winter or early spring annually. Make sure not to add too much nitrogen.


G) Winter Care

Most cherry trees can survive temperatures above 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Any consistently lower temperatures and even the hardiest of cherry trees will die.

If you live in a hardiness zone that gets extremely cold temperatures consistently in winter then plant a type of cherry that can grow in gardening containers. When the weather gets too cold bring it inside. You can also bring it in every fall and let it go dormant.

If you live in a region that has a cold to mild temperatures in the winter then plant your cherry outside.

If you feel your weather may get colder than usual there are ways to protect it. Therefore, insulate it with leaves, mulch, or a tarp to prevent cold-weather damage.

Below, is a great video on How to Grow Cherries in Containers:


Supplies Needed for Pruning

1. Gloves

While gloves aren’t essential for learning how to prune and trim cherry trees they do serve a valuable purpose.

They prevent your hands from getting scraped by branches, bit by insects, and even potential sap rashes.

I recommend an all-purpose glove. The Pine Tree Tools WorkingGloves is perfect for pruning and many other types of gardening.

2. Pruners

The whole purpose of this article is to teach you How to Prune Cherry Trees. You can’t prune cherry trees with pruners.

While there are numerous pruners out there do yourself and your plant a favor and get the best.

This will help to learn How to Prune Cherry Trees that much easier.

The Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruners are ideal for cutting stems and light branches.

The no-stick coating makes it the best pruners out there for cutting through wood without having to worry about sap.

3. Loppers

As your Cherry trees continue to grow pruners won’t get the job done. The bigger the tree and bush are the more you will need a lopper.

Loppers are perfect for large branches!  And they are easy to use when learning how to prune cherry trees.

The Fiskars Lopper is ideal for cutting growth and large branches. Made with a fully hardened blade that is perfect for heavy use.

In addition, the rust-resistant blade will last you for years.


Conclusion

While pruning is not rocket science there are ESSENTIAL Tips that can make it as effective and efficient as possible.

Make sure you have the proper supplies before you begin.

This will save you time, energy, money, and frustration. It will also make your job as easy as possible.

In addition, follow the 10 ESSENTIAL Tips and Caring Tips above. If you do this you will not fail.

Also, see a few key reminders below:

  1. Immediately prune your cherry tree.
  2. ALWAYS Prune your cherry tree after the first winter.
  3. Prune every year. This ensures that your tree grows as efficiently as possible.
  4. Trim the correct branches to ensure healthy growth and more fruit.
  5. Prune all dead wood. This will help reduce disease and allow nutrients only to go to fruiting wood, flowers, and fruit.
  6. Get rid of suckers. These are growth that comes from the ground and bears no fruit.
  7. Prune all secondary branches. Again, this type of wood will only take nutrients and provide no fruit.
  8. Trim down fruiting wood. This will allow the fruit to grow more efficiently and effectively.
  9. Prune down all other non-fruiting wood. If it points inwards then prune it. If it intertwines with another wood prune it. And if it is a sucker then prune it.
  10. Don’t forget distance of branches is important for cherry tree care!


If you enjoyed this article then I recommend reading:

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