Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Too late to prune flowering cherry tree?

M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
in Plants
Ok so I focussed so much on prepping a new lawn area that I missed out on pruning my flowering cherry tree which is about 12 feet or so high (perhaps more). Is it too late to take some of the height off without harming/affecting its flowering this year?
I wish I could garden all year round!

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2023
    Wrong time of year for pruning them. Summer is the time  :)

    I should add that it's later on because of the diseases they're prone to, and an ornamental might be ok a little earlier than the fruiting ones, as you aren't waiting for fruit as such. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited March 2023
    Fairygirl said:
    ....as you aren't waiting for fruit as such. 
    It's purely the ornamental one Fairygirl - like this one:



    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can possibly do it after flowering, depending on when that happens, but certainly not through spring/early summer.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    The best time to prune is when you are in the mood.

    Any branches you take off will obviously take the flowers with them.

    Another mantra is:  A good time to prune is after flowering.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    bédé said:
    The best time to prune is when you are in the mood.... A good time to prune is after flowering.
    Thank you Bede  :)
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can do a lot of damage to a cherry if you prune at the wrong time. They aren't the same as other trees.
    We see it regularly on the forum @M33R4. 
    Take a look here for the info on the problems 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/pruning-guide
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.