Tart cherries scientific name Prunus cerasus are also called sour cherries.

Apr 07, Before pruning your cherry tree, measure it and only prune it if it is taller than 30 inches. To head the tree, diagonally cut off the top so the tree is between 24 to 36 inches tall as this will help prevent rot.

Wait at least a year before pruning a scaffold whorl, which is 4 branches extending from the tree. How long do sour cherry trees live?

Second Spring: Do not prune young sour cherry trees until the danger of extreme cold temperatures is over. Generally, this is mid-to-late March for 1 to 4 year-old trees in Michigan.

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Pruning cuts made in mid-winter on these young trees often result in severe winter injury problems. Choose 4 well-spaced, side-scaffold limbs with.

Prunus cerasus The sap flow of the sour cherry begins in winter. It is better not to prune while the sap flow is still active as this can cause the tree to bleed. Adult cherry trees should not be pruned in spring before the harvest but in July after the fruits have been harvested.

Fungicides and bactericides may help prevent or treat disease once the infection is properly diagnosed.

In the best interest of your tree, it is preferable to do some pruning versus no pruning. If an cherry tree is left unpruned, it may not become fruitful, it will not grow as well, and – in some cases – it may not be encouraged to grow at all. There are three main reasons you should prune your cherry tree: its survival, stimulation and shaping.