Pruning My Sour Cherry Tree
Before you start reading I want to make absolutely sure that you understand that I have absolutely no experience in this area. I do not want you to kill your tree if you happened to find this post via Google. There are some real experts out there that you should consult. This is one that I found particularly helpful, but I read many articles and watched several videos, including this one, on YouTube before attempting this feat.
The purpose behind writing this post is to document what I did. I will update this summer and next year to let you know if the tree made it after what I am afraid was a butcher job.
We planted this tree in the spring of 2012. The following summer it produced a great deal of fruit. Last summer there were hardly any cherries on the tree. I am hoping that the pruning will help the tree produce more in the future if not this year. These first three pictures are of the tree before it was pruned from three different angles.
These were my tools, although I never did use the pole saw in the end. I feared that I would not be tall enough to make all of the cuts, but I must have grown.
For a while I just stared at the tree. It was a nerve wracking moment. I was terrified of making a mistake, but I knew that I had to start somewhere.
Finally I grabbed the clippers and made my move. The first cut was to top off the tree.
After I made the cut, I remembered that at least one of the articles mentioned not making a cut that would allow water to collect. I decided to make this one more diagonal. In the process, the bark peeled a bit. I hope it is not a problem that the cut is not as clean as it was.
Next I had to chose which main branches to leave and which to trim. I am not sure if you could tell from any of the pictures, but my little tree is very uneven. Few branches grow on the north side of the trunk. I decided to leave the one that was there and four others that branched out at different angles.
Here is the tree after I had cleaned the trunk of the surplus branches. It is looking bare, but trust me, things are going to get worse.
These are all of the limbs that I pruned from the tree. It was a harrowing experience. I felt like a murderer. Will the tree ever forgive me?
Here are the after pictures. She is looking rather naked, but spring is surely on its way. Once she blossoms, she should look a lot better.
Speaking of spring, do you believe that it will ever arrive? There are still piles of snow in our yard, and it snowed again yesterday afternoon. I think that March got upset about her reputation of going out like a lamb. She is determined to prove her lion-like fierceness. Hopefully, April is more gentle for us.
The tulips are starting to appear and the crocuses are blooming. These bits of green warm my heart despite the chill still in the air.
We are optimistic that our lawn will rejuvenate soon. Douglas put down more seed, lime and other minerals.
The Cape of Dreams is ready for warmer weather and more color. Please come soon, Spring, we miss you!
Happy Homemaking!
I am a teacher, traveler, artist, writer, homemaker and a whole lot more. In January 2009, I bought the Cape of Dreams. It was the second house that I had ever owned, but it was the first that I bought by myself. I now live in the house with my husband Douglas, our dog Kahlua, and Crème de Menthe, the cat. Because, what life is complete without a little Kahlua and Cream? I love arts and crafts of all kinds, and I refinish furniture as well. We are slowly redoing our entire house. You can read about my projects on my blog www.CapeofDreams.com
you are so bold! i hope this tree blooms well for you. i get mega anxiety pruning my butterfly bush, and usually give up before i go too far.
a getaway is always a good thing, dc looked fun, but cold, lol. we got back 2 weeks ago from california, where it was full on spring. i could do with that weather here!!
take care,
b
California, lucky you! Hopefully, the blossoms and fair weather are not too far away for all of us.
You’ve given me confidence to prune. My object will be my 3 olive trees that I bring indoors in the winter. I want them to be topiaries, of course. Hope I don’t ruin them.
Love the crocuses. It’s the only thing blooming in our neck of the woods. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
You can do it! I have faith in you. The first cut is the deepest (hardest), just ask Rod Stewart or Cheryl Crow.
I am sure you will see the benefits of a good prune and encouraging a more even shape. Here in the UK we have had gales and they have taken their toll on my garden fence. Its new posts this weekend as we repair the damage. I agree come on spring x
Sorry to hear about your fence. Hope the damage is not too hard to fix. Wooden fences are lovely. I wish we had one.
You are so brave! Pruning is really hard to do, even if you have good instructions. It’s just hard to make those cuts! It reminds me of what my mom always said about eating crab: The pile when you’re done is bigger than the pile that you started with.
We have a beautiful Mt. Fuji cherry (flowering only) that is unbalanced. I need to find out what to do … I sure don’t want to make any false moves! I hope you get great results from your efforts!
It was scary, but I survived. Just do a lot of investigation, and I am sure your tree will be fine.
I should prune my apple tree, but I’m too afraid! Spring hasn’t arrived here either… I’m just tired to put a sweater on every morning, I want T-shirts and feminine flats rather than boots!
You should go for it. Your apple tree will be healthier in the end. I too look forward to warmer weather, but as a teacher I do not want it to get warm too fast. When it is very warm outside, my classroom is unbearably hot and the students get cranky.
I am sure your tree will come back bigger and stronger and better 🙂 That’s what always seems to happen when they get a good pruning. Even though it is scary! You are very brave! I’m not sure I’d have been able to do it! But if you get a ton more fruit from her, it’ll be SO worth it!!! Happy Spring, Jessica!
Here’s hoping for more fruit. I am ready for some sour cherry pie!!!