Tree care.

[Darwin.]

I was going to feed my trees again but I think it might be too late in the year. I figure this is the best place to ask.

I was thinking of lightly pruning my apple, damson, pear, cherry, plumb and cobnut trees too. Possibly the trees at the front too, crab apple, rowan, cherry blossom, alder, beech, birch, labernum and willow (I'm sure I've forgotten some) Do they all get treated the same? Is it too early or late for pruning? They've been planted here anywhere from 1 to 4 years and we're all young when planted so are likely 2-6 years old.

I have an oak at the front that's 14 years old and 20' tall but I won't touch it and a tree down the back that I can't remember what it is, it might be 8 and is about 12' tall.

[Jay22]

We also have some flowering cherry trees both in our garden and in a yard over the fence. They are become very overgrown and need trimming back but I have read conflicting advice online. Can anyone tell me when the best time would be to do this. I always though I should do this kind of work during the trees dormant season, once the leaves dropped, but have now read that any cutting back should be done mid-summer. New to this gardening lark so any advice would be appreciated.

[Kristen]

My understanding is that Cherry trees bleed when pruned, so it is best done in Summer rather than the dormant season (as would be normal for other things) as Cherries will heal more slowly and be more prone to [canker] infection in winter because of their "bleeding".

Having said that I think best not to prune Cherries at all unless you have to - the increased risk of Canker is always there

[simon12]

My understanding is similar that cherries should be be pruned while dormant and also they are best pruned soon after dormancy to control shape and encourage the growth you want and later to control the growth and even later if you want to risk killing it. I would definitely advise its to late to prune now but I am no expert hopefully FB will be along to advise so do what he says.

[Kristen]

My understanding is similar that cherries should be be pruned while dormant

Just checking that maybe you meant to put NOT in there?

[Jay22]

Thanks guys, think I will err on the not pruning till summer side of things...the trees in my garden are about 20 years old and the overhanging ones must be about 60/70...I believe they were planted just after the war. I wouldn't want to be responsible for killing them!

[simon12]

Just checking that maybe you meant to put NOT in there?

Yes. Good thing I have you to translate, sorry for that.

[Darwin.]

Well that's answered his question but not mine, I still don't know if I should feed my trees or not and if I should be pruning them. I have 5 cherry blossom that I know about now bit what about my other 70 trees?

[Scarlet]

I think your question hasn't been answered because you haven't been very specific. It's difficult to give you a pruning:feeding advice on every tree that you've mentioned. There's only so much you info one can put in one post and tree pruning and health is a very large subject..I've attached a few links at the bottom for you to start

That said most trees are pruned in the dormant season although there are some exceptions as discussed above, birch is another. Apple cordons would have a different pruning regime to standards etc. Feeding requirements can also be different, although a good mulch now will never hurt.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=539

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=90

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=325

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/897/Common-alder/Details