pruning a cherry tree

[birddog]

I live in the northeast and have two cherry trees at the end of my driveway that are starting to get out of shape and need to be pruned. Is it to late in the year to prune them. Have done a search and have had neg. res.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It is hard to find info on pruning specific plants. This is because the rules tend to be rather generic. Most trees in the rose family are best pruned in the dormant season, due to some fungal/bacterial problems.

other then that follow basic pruning guide lines.

Proper pruning-
http://search.dogpile.com/texis/search?q=proper+pruning&geo=no&fs=web

Pruning fruit trees-
http://search.dogpile.com/texis/search?q=pruning+fruit+trees&geo=no&fs=web

 

[birddog]

Thanks for the info.

 

[jack c. loesch]

pruning cherry tree

hey materune them in april.
jack

 

[Treeman14]

Originally posted by birddog
...starting to get out of shape and need to be pruned...

You're not thinking of topping or shaping them, are you?

 

[birddog]

I wasn't thinking of topping them, but more or less trying to shape them. The branches are starting to over hang into the street, so it would need shaping. Take a little here, take a little there. The thickness of the branches, at most is 1-2".

 

[Mike Starner]

If they are a flowering species, prune them in the spring after they flower. You must prune them before the flower buds set or you will have less blooms the following spring.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I've always wondered aboutthat statement. Prune flowering trees just afte petal drop.

I can see that for shearing shrubs, or pruning durring bloom when you can knock off petals, but if you are careful, and not jerking branches out your not going to damage flower buds on the remaining branches.