The Best Time to Trim Bing Cherry Trees

Sweet Bing cherries are flavorful.

Bing cherries differ from some other varieties because they are sweet instead of sour. Bing cherries produce large, dark red fruit with a meaty flavor. Sunset Magazine notes that Bing cherries are among the best varieties of cherries.

Time Frame

Prune Bing cherry trees right before bud break, the time when the buds begin to grow and swell. Pruning and trimming trees at this time allows for the tree to heal quickly and not have an open wound for a long time.

Expert Insight

If you want to keep your cherry tree a particular shape or size, you may trim throughout the summer months as well. Oregon State University suggests pruning sweet cherry trees in August when there is a smaller chance of getting a bacterial infection. Thin out the extra shoots on the tree to produce more fruit. This method also helps increase the size and quality of the remaining shoots on the tree.

Considerations

Like other sweet cherry trees, Bings prefer an open-center system, which produces a wider tree. Oregon State University notes that it will take four seasons in order to get the correct shape.

References

• Texas A&M: Cherry
• Oregon State University Extension Service: Training and Pruning Your Home Orchard
• Sunset: Plant Finder- Cherry