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How to prune an old cherry tree

davidhchalkdavidhchalk Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi,

I have a few old cherry trees that have not been trimmed in a few years. As you can see from the photo, they have grown quite wild! I have read that you want to be careful to not prune too aggressively an old cherry tree. With that in mind, I am thinking to prune first the dead branches, then branches that point downwards, then branches that cross each other. 
But I am at a loss on whether to cut back all the "newer branches" growing up towards the sky, and if so, where to cut them?
Any ideas and advice would be most welcome!
Thanks!
DC

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited February 2019
    Don't prune until they are well in leaf otherwise you risk them getting silver leaf disease, which is fatal.  However, you could mark the ones you want to remove now while you can see them (eg by tying a bit of string round each one) and prune out later.  The vertical ones are known as 'water shoots' and this happens after heavy pruning.  You can cut out up to about 1/3rd of those this year (take them off right to the base) then another 3rd next year.  If you take them all off, the problem will get worse as pruning stimulates vigorous new growth, so it's a bit of a balancing act.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • davidhchalkdavidhchalk Posts: 2
    Much appreciated! Thank you!
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