How to Prune Canadian Chokecherry Trees

Canadian chokecherry (Prunus virginiana 'Schubert') is a versatile plant grown as a 20- to 30-foot tree or as a shrub. Drought-tolerant and cold hardy are two attributes that make this plum family member a popular landscape ornamental. It is, however, highly susceptible to black-knot disease. Pruning out the disease is a part of treating it. Grow Canadian chokecherry trees in zones 3 and above on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone Map.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring cup
• Bucket
• Disinfectant
• Pruning equipment

Instructions

1. Add 1 cup of household disinfectant to the bucket. Pour in 4 cups of water. Take the bucket with you to prune the Canadian chokecherry tree.

2. Remove diseased branches, if applicable, by cutting them off into healthy wood. From the diseased portion, measure back 6 inches and make the cut there.

3. Dip the pruning equipment into the disinfectant before pruning the rest of the Canadian chokecherry.

4. Cut growth from within the middle of the shrub to open it up. Cut all growth back to a lateral branch.

5. Prune suckers as they appear. Suckers are small growths on the lower portion of the shrub, sometimes from the soil at its base. Small suckers can be rubbed off with a gloved hand. Use pruning shears for larger growth.

References

• University of California; How Disinfectants Compare in Preventing Transmission of Fire Blight; Beth L. Teviotdale, et al.; August 1999
• University of Saskatchewan Extension; The Common Chokecherry; Tom Ward
• Colorado State University; Canada Red Chokecherry; 2010
• "Landscape Management: Planting and Maintenance of Trees, Shrubs and Turfgrass"; James R. Feucht and Jack D. Butler; 1988

Resources

• The United States National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
• Washington State University: Sterilized Pruning Tools; Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott