Cherry trees not much growth in 1st year.

[simon12]

I planted 2 x 1y maiden bare root cherries in December 2013 both on G5 root stock, 1 is Lapins and 1 Napoleon. They both can as a stick with roots aroung 1m high and as per what I read I cut off the top 20cm when it came out of dormancy. Now the main trunks are not noticeably any taller then the were a year ago i have developed 2 branches about 25cm and 30cm the other has 3 all 15-20cm. Is this normal growth for 1 year?

[chrisdb]

You're doing better than me. I planted a bare root cherry of G5 around the same time which basically did nothing apart from leaf out for most of last year, and looked distinctly unhappy later on in the season. My street is lined with prunus avium and there used to be a big cherry in the garden that the previous owner cut down, so I'm not sure if the lack of vigour is due to general site unhappiness, expose to diseases / replant disease due the other cherries, or G5 just being too pathetic a rootstock. I suspect that part of it might be that cherries, naturally big trees, don't really like being shrunk into 2m tall shrubs.

I was so unimpressed that as a backup I ordered a Celeste on Colt. Celeste is supposed to be naturally dwarf (we'll see how true that is!), and I thought the more vigorous rootstock might make it a bit more robust. It's currently in a pot, and it will either possibly replace the cherry on G5 or go in the front garden on the opposite side of the house.

[boundtothesoil]

i have developed 2 branches about 25cm and 30cm the other has 3 all 15-20cm. Is this normal growth for 1 year?

I wouldn't worry too much about this. To have produced new growth of these lengths on two or three laterals during your first full growing season isn't bad. Now that the trees have established their root systems, you may get greater extension growth during year two. I don't know how many main branches you are hoping for, but you'll probably have to do some formative pruning later this season.

[simon12]

OK thanks. I don't mind what shape the tree grows in just whats best to get fruit from it in a few years, what sort of formative pruning would you suggest?

[Valleyman]

For a start don't prune your cherry trees yet. Prune in late summer, otherwise you run the risk of nasty fungal diseases.

When pruning it's hard to say without seeing the trees. Basically if someone said to draw a tree, you want to create that, where every time the branch forks is close to where you have pruned. If that makes sense.

Typically this involves:
- Cut back any shoots that grow into the centre or down towards the ground
- Cut back new growth between a 1/3 and 2/3 to create the perfect forking position.

Here, I drew a pic of the tree you should be able to achieve within two years.

[simon12]

Thank you for that I will see what they look like in the summer.