Many of us have ever eaten ripe cherries, but not everyone knows how to grow it properly. And in order to collect a good crop, you need to master some pruning technique. Not in every garden you will find such an amazing tree as cherries, since it is quite whimsical to care for. But if everything is done correctly, it will bear fruit well - the berries will be large, sweet and in large quantities. Cherry pruning is the main tree care method. All tips and rules on this subject will be discussed later. They will help novice gardeners.
Why pruning
They make it so that the tree bears good fruit. Cherry pruning is performed, as a rule, at a young age. This procedure helps to form the correct crown of the tree. This can be done from spring to autumn. It is worth remembering that the older the tree becomes, the more it requires care. One pruning is not enough. In order for everything to work out correctly, you need to follow the main goals and know what it is for:
- so that all branches are well lit by the sun;
- to form a strong crown near the tree;
- to make the tree healthier;
- to support one crown size.
To ensure that each item is respected, you need to study all the available ways to care for the tree. You also need to know what the correct cherry pruning pattern looks like. Beginning gardeners are invited to familiarize themselves with all the subtleties.
Simple tips
It is worthwhile to make out a few tips from experienced gardeners:
- When making each slice, it is worth remembering that it will certainly affect the growth and development of cherries. If it is made incorrectly or untimely, then the fruitful system will be disturbed in the tree.
- You need to know where and how the sweet cherry is cut.
- You should master and familiarize yourself with the correct technique of pruning branches.
- For the procedure you need to prepare a well-sharpened garden tool.
- The tree tolerates only small cuts well. Therefore, if possible, do this only while the tree is young.
When do pruning cherries
Cherry pruning requires an optimal season. From the moment the tree is planted in the ground, and before fruiting, pruning is necessary. In this case, you should adhere to the main task - to correctly form skeletal branches. In the future, this will help to get new shoots. Cherry pruning is to remove annual shoots and extra branches that take strength away from the tree. Large branches are cut to half length, and medium and small ones - to 1/3 of the length. As a result, the crown of the tree will be magnificent and strong. Such a procedure should be carried out without fail with each tree. Otherwise, you should not expect a large and rich harvest from cherries. It is also worth considering the time of year for wood processing.
Cherry pruning in autumn
Wood processing in the autumn should be carried out necessarily. This is the best time to prepare cherries for the next season. Cutting a tree in the fall will help to give a large and high-quality crop. Processing is done after all the leaves have completely fallen. At the same time, you can immediately cut off all rotten branches and prepare the tree for wintering.
Spring tree pruning
Cutting sweet cherries in the spring helps to make the tree fit. Experienced gardeners make it in such a way that the branches grow in a horizontal position. This helps in the future to conveniently collect cherries. It is worth considering how sweet pruning should be done in the spring. The processing scheme is as follows:
1. In the first spring after planting a tree on it you need to put the height marks of the stem. From him, 7-8 kidneys are counted up and the first cut is made in this place.
2. In the second year, several branches are selected from the side shoots and begin to form the initial tier of the crown. The lowest shoot is shortened by half its length, and all the others are adjusted to its size. About 65–70 cm are measured from the uppermost branch and cut.
3. In the third year of life, cherries cut branches to the size of the first tier, and also removes new shoots that grow to the center.
4. In the fourth spring, shorten the central branch to prevent accelerated growth of the tree. Shoots that belong to the third tier cut off everything. They should be shorter than the central branch.
As you can see from the diagram, sweet cherry pruning in the spring is a procedure that is not done in one year. This is a gradual preparation of the tree for a good harvest.
Tree pruning in summer
A young tree can be pruned in the summer, but they do this only when necessary. Summer is a favorable time of year for such a treatment. During this period, you can do this procedure no more than three times. This time is great for removing all unnecessary overgrown branches or those that have dried and rotted. If the tree is old, then in the summer you can start updating it. Cherry rejuvenation is the removal of all old wood. All wounds should be treated with special drugs. So that the tree does not die and tolerates a similar procedure, they do it gradually over several years.
To collect a rich harvest of delicious and fragrant cherries every year, you need to properly care for the tree. Then it will be strong and fruitful. To do this, it is necessary to constantly cut the sweet cherry in the spring. The scheme presented above will help inexperienced gardeners to cope. It’s easy to master these skills. It is worth arming with a pruner and follow the tips. The main thing in this matter is not to rush and stick to the instructions.