When to Prune a Flowering Cherry Tree?
There are a large number of flowering cherry trees, from weeping snow fountain cherry trees to the traditional Bing cherry. Pruning flowering cherry trees at the right time of year is important for maintaining the health and the appearance of the tree throughout its life. Improper pruning can lead to hampered growth and disease. Does this Spark an idea?
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Early Spring
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Late winter or early spring are the best times to prune a flowering cherry tree. At this time of the year, the cherry tree is still dormant and will lose less sap through the wounds created through pruning, thus experiencing less damage. Additionally, pruning the tree when it is dormant prevents a gardener from removing new growth that is beneficial to the tree. Removing dead wood from the previous season is important for the tree.
Benefits
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Keeping the cherry tree healthy involves caring for it in the right way. Reducing damage done through pruning limits the likelihood that the tree will contract fungal diseases through the wounds. Additionally, pruning in early spring helps encourage new growth to emerge from the tree, adding healthy new wood to the flowering cherry. Removing dead or damaged wood limits the ability of harmful insects or bacterial and fungal diseases from living on the flowering cherry tree.
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After Blooming
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Pruning following fruit production and loss of blooms is also beneficial for an ornamental flowering cherry tree. This helps control the shape of the tree's growth for the rest of the season without damaging the production of blossoms. Thinning out branches that are growing too close together keeps the tree healthy and prevents overcrowding, which can lead to a smaller production of flowers in future growth seasons. Spacing the branches out improves the ability of the tree to produce healthy growth.
Maintenance Pruning
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Maintenance pruning, as after a damaging storm or pest problem, helps restore the tree's health. Pruning that removes branches that have been killed by physical or environmental conditions such as storms, ice or falling branches gets rid of potentially rotting wood. Pest problems and fungal diseases can also be controlled by getting rid of the branches most affected by the disease or insect, to limit their habitat and reduce the population. Maintenance pruning should be performed as necessary for the tree.
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References
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