How to Trim Cherry Trees
The rule for proper care of cherry trees is to treat them as delicate as they look. Cherry trees will grow and yield the most fruit when trimmed in the proper fashion. Cherry trees do not have a particularly long lifespan--roughly 20 or so years overall--but you must keep them properly maintained and well trimmed for them to survive even that long. Trim them every year in order to keep a balanced line of encouraged growth, and keeping branches strong. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Harvest any fruit from your cherry trees before trimming, preferably in the summer. Although most fruit-based trees are pruned in late fall or early winter, cherry trees have a higher vulnerability to diseases. It's better to trim them while the weather is warm but not too hot.
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Trim off any dead, dying or diseased areas of the tree. This process allows the cherry tree to enhance future growth, and takes advantage of fertilizing and natural watering to strengthen its healthy branches. It also helps prevent a line of defense against diseases and bacteria from stopping the tree's healthy growth.
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Check the base of the tree for any signs of wild seed growth. Dig these up without damaging the main roots. In some cases, you will be able to just cut them away.
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Trim the cherry branches at an angle about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the nearest bud on the limb. This limits the growth of the branch while maintaining the overall health and strength of the tree. Cutting the branches at an angle helps the tree maintain a water-free base that can rot the limb and lead to bacterial infection or disease.
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Check the tree for any damaged areas. Use the tree sealant or pruning paste to cover all areas of mistakes that may have been made. The paste will act as a antibiotic for the damaged area and keep any bacteria or pests from killing the tree.
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