Select a group of four that are evenly spaced, the lowest at least 50cm above the ground. First spring after planting: A year old cherry tree will normally have several sidebranches.Q How do I train a sweet or acid cherry as a bush?

The wires can be supported on a wall – which has the added benefits of providing shelter plus storing and radiating warmth – or on a fence or between free-standing posts. You can train them either as a free-standing small tree (usually known as a bush), or as a fan tied on to wires spaced 30cm or less apart. Initial pruning and training is the same for all types of cherry. Other pruning to correct problems and encourage fruiting should be carried out in summer – more details below.Ĭaption: Cherry pruning should be done in the growing season Initial pruning and training of young trees is best carried out in spring, just as the buds are breaking.

This reduces the risk of silver leaf disease which is most widespread in winter.

x gondouinii, are pruned in the same way.Īcid cherries such as 'Morello' have been developed from the dwarf cherry from south-east Asia, Prunus cerasus, and are pruned quite differently once mature.Ĭaption: Pruning cherries will help you get delicious cropsĪ All cherry pruning should be carried out in the growing season. 'Bigarreau Napoleon', 'Celeste', 'Early Rivers', 'Lapins' ('Cherokee'), 'Merton Glory', 'Stella', 'Summer Sun', 'Sunburst' and 'Sweetheart' are all sweet cherries.ĭuke cherries, such as 'May Duke', derived from P. Sweet cherries, derived from the European wild cherry Prunus avium, are most common. A There are three groups of cherries, based on different species, and it is important to know which you have, as established trees are pruned differently.

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