Pruning Cherry

[andrewo]

Got a bumper crop off my cherry tree, bucket and a half! At least 17 pounds worth of cherries. I pruned some of the more vigorous branches as I went, I was told if you prune now the branches won't grow back.

However, I want to reduce the top growth by half? Making the tree shorter next year and easier to crop. Is this possible and when should I do it?

Can I keep the tree short like this?

[SueA]

Don't know about fruiting cherries myself Andrew as I only have a flowering one, but as nobody as answered your question I thought I'd get the ball rolling. I think it depends on which kind of cherry you have, if you've got a Morello then you can hard prune it after fruiting & it will grow back so maintaining it at a reasonable height but if you have a sweet cherry it depends if it is on dwarf rooting stock. Bob Flowerdew says sweet cherries should only be pruned early in life & early in the season to prevent silver leaf disease & I think they will grow quite vigorously whatever you do.

[nick the grief]

Hi Andrew,

Try the fruit expert book I bet that will have the answer - local library may have it ir go to your local garden centre & look at a copy there & take notes - cheaper still