Are your cherry blossoms looking like they have gotten a bad case of bed head? It might be time to get out your pruning shears. How do you prune your flowering cherry trees?
Pruning flowering cherry trees properly encourages new growth and flowering. You can also get rid of dead branches and other abnormalities. Pruning your flowering cherry tree should be done in late winter or early spring.
Continue reading to find out the best methods to prune flowering cherry trees and when you should do it. You don’t need to be an expert in pruning trees to manage your flowering cherry tree.
Why Do Flowering Cherry Trees Need Pruning?
Flowering trees such as the flowering cherry require regular care to keep them healthy.encourages new growth so that you can enjoy the gorgeous blooms every spring. If the tree is not properly pruned, it can become too full and branches can rub against each other, leaving open wounds. It can look very unattractive in your yard.
They are very beautiful and may add a pleasant fragrance to your garden .
Some trees, such as the flowering cherry tree, have dense growth patterns.
http://treejourney.com/what ph-level do trees actually like for best growth/? title=”What pH Level Do Trees Actually Enjoy For Best Growth?”> You can read our article on the different types of mock cherry trees () and where they are grown.
Pruning keeps the tree healthy
Regular pruning of your flowering cherry tree will prolong its life and help it to be healthier. Pruning can also reduce overcrowding and prevent branches from rubbing against each other. This could lead to problems in the future.
Properly trimming and pruning your tree will ensure that the canopy, which is the top of the tree and the leaf-covered area, remains open and allows for plenty of sunlight and airflow. As the airflow reduces the number of spores that can cause fungal growth, this helps to protect the flowers and foliage.
Regular pruning is also necessary to remove weaker branches that could cause injury or open the tree to insects and other pests.
Trees that are not properly maintained can become unhealthy and overgrown. The tree can be weakened if the foliage and branches are too dense. Dead branches can also cause problems.
Also, a poorly pruned tree can make it look unattractive and disorganized.
Pruning Is Preventative Maintenance
Pruning your trees allows you to identify potential problems and fix them before they become bigger problems. Pruning your trees is a way to check if they are in need of attention. It’s almost like a yearly visit to the doctor.
Sometimes, rubbing branches can cause the bark to crack open and expose the interior of the tree. This makes the area vulnerable to infection and weakens the tree. You will not see any signs of weakness, pests that could harm the tree, or infections that you should remove before professional care is required.
Proper Pruning Does Not Harm The Tree
Regular, thorough pruning can help strengthen your tree. Pruning removes infected and afflicted branches and leaves. This gives the tree energy to grow, which makes it stronger and more resilient.
A proper trimming can speed up the tree’s healing process. If branches are not properly trimmed, they can become detached, causing severe wounds that are difficult to heal and open the tree up for pests and infections. It is similar to a cut that we do not properly treat. This can lead to more problems down the line.
Pruning makes the tree more attractive
The forest trees, which are wild and have branches all over, with moss dripping from the branches, give off a rugged appearance. Most people don’t want their gardens or front yards to look wild and unruly.
To show off the attractive shape of the canopy and beautiful blooms on your flowering cherry tree, you bought it. This guide will help you keep your tree attractive and appealing.
If you don’t trim your flowering cherry trees, they can quickly become unruly and a eyesore, compared to neatly trimmed hedges or lush green lawns. Pruning your tree will keep it in a good shape and encourage more blooms while also ensuring that your yard has healthy, full-grown foliage increasing its appeal.
When Should You Prune A Flowering Cherry Tree?
Now that you understand why flowering cherry trees need to be trimmed, let’s discuss the best times to trim them. There are times when trimming your tree is beneficial, but there are others when it’s not.
Pruning trees in the wrong time can cause more damage than good. This could cause shock to your tree, causing it to drop in growth and make it look sickly. There are different stages of growth for trees. They are dormant in winter and don’t grow much. In fall, they store energy for colder winters.
You can prune trees during their dormant stage without causing any harm. However, this article is only about flowering cherry trees. For questions regarding pruning trees on your property or when and how much to prune them, consult a professional tree specialist or arborist.
We will discuss the best times to prune your cherry blossom trees.
Trim Cherry Trees In Late Winter Or Early Spring
Don’t prune your flowering cherry trees in the late fall or early winter. The tree is trying to conserve energy for its long dormant period. The tree will not have enough energy or time to seal the cuts that were made during pruning.
You should wait until the spring or late winter for your region to prune cherry trees. The tree will soon be able to heal the areas where it was cut. This is the best time to prune the tree. This is the best time to do heavier pruning.
Pruning will be easier if you have removed all foliage by late winter/early spring. You can also see the branches clearly. The foliage will not get in the way or block the view. It is easier to see if branches are rubbing against each other and where dead wood is.
Trim Immediately After Blooming
To encourage new growth and the production of more flowers next season, you can also begin pruning once the cherry tree has stopped blooming. However, don’t wait until the blooms are gone to start pruning. Do not wait to trim the blooms after they have fallen.
Keep the pruning light during this time. To encourage better growth and enhance the tree’s shape, trim smaller branches. For late winter and early spring, leave larger branches and more heavy trimming.
How To Prune Your Flowering Cherry Tree Properly
To get a better feel for your tree, you should stand back and observe its natural growth patterns. Is it like an umbrella? Does it hang down, grow up toward the sun or bush out in an oval- or circular shape? You can shape your tree into whatever natural shape you like.
This will also help you create a plan to prune your tree.
Take the time to look back at each cut and take a step back. You need to be systematic or you might end up with a tree with no beauty.
1. Remove Unhealthy Branches
Cut the branches to the healthy area when cutting back branches or removing diseased branches. Don’t leave any stub dangling from the branch as it could lead to further rotting. This will encourage the section to grow stronger by cutting it back to a healthy side shot.
You should cut a branch just above the collar if you need to remove it all. The bark at the base of the branch appears wrinkled around the collar. To speed up the tree’s healing process, you should cut as straight as possible just above this collar.
You must ensure that your cuts are straight and clean. You can use a larger cutting tool to make a second cut if the cut becomes frayed or crushed.
Hand shears can be used to cut branches up to the width of a pencil or 1/2 inch. The saw can cut thicker branches than the lopper, which will allow them to cut branches up 1 1/2 inches thick.
Clean up any broken branches and make sure the tree heals itself quickly.
2. Do Not “Top” Your Tree
Topping a tree is the act of cutting off nearly all the tree’s growth to reduce its height or limit its growth. This will drastically reduce the tree’s life expectancy and open it up to many problems that it may never be able to recover from.
It is not a good idea to top a tree. This can cause the tree to lose its main leader and branches and make it difficult for the tree to heal. This can also reduce the tree’s life expectancy.
3. Remove Any Dead Branches
Once you have completed trimming, check for dead or damaged growth and remove them. Take a step back and remove all unwanted branches.
It’s easy for you to get in the “zone”, then stop trimming and realize that you might have been a bit too ambitious. It now looks just like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.
4. Clean Out The Tree’s Canopy
Next, clear out all clutter and open the canopy. The top should not be removed completely, but the tree should be opened. This allows air to flow freely through fully-leaved branches.
The best rule of thumb is to be able see the sky through your flowering cherry tree’s canopy. This opens the tree up to allow sunlight to penetrate its lower and inner branches. This allows the tree to grow stronger and healthier, as well as produce more food.
After each cut, take a moment to look at the tree, and then plan the next section. You don’t have to rush! It is not possible to rush to finish a painting.
5. Remove Undesirable Branches
Be aware of branches that rub against each other or cross. Rubbishing branches can cause injury and lead to further damage. Take one of these branches out.
This is also true for branches that cross each other. Although they may not cause a problem right now, they could rub or grow into one another during the growing season.
Water sprouts are another branch to watch out for. Water sprouts can grow more quickly than other branches and can be easily broken off by wind gusts. Take out any water sprouts.
Next, remove any branches or branches that are growing towards the inside of the flowering cherry tree. These branches can cause serious problems and should be removed as soon as possible.
The branches should be able to grow outwards in a uniform pattern. You want them to be evenly spaced and neat enough to allow for plenty of airflow.
6. Trim Any Suckers
The suckers are tiny branches that grow from the bottom of a tree and its root system. These suckers do exactly what they’re called they sap energy from the rest of the tree.
They can also look unattractive and take up a lot energy, slowing down the growth of other trees.
These suckers should be removed from the base of your tree along with any branches that are attached to it. This will preserve the beauty of your flowering cherry’s blooms.
7. Step Back And Take Another Look
How does your tree look now that you have removed all dead, broken or unusual-looking branches and trimmed it? Does it look healthy and lean?
Remove any growth that is not in keeping with the tree‘s natural habits. To make it more attractive and uniform, shape it now. Because you’ve done all of the heavy pruning, this part should be light.
Congratulations! Your flowering cherry tree has been successfully trimmed. You can now clean the branches and disinfect your tools so they are ready for future use.
What Tools Do You Need For Cherry Tree Pruning?
Make sure you have all the necessary equipment before you start to hack at your cherry tree. These are the items you will need
- Anvil shears or hand pruning shears
- Two loppers for branches with a diameter of more than an inch and a quarter
- Pruning saw for larger branches
- Gardening gloves
- Step ladder for higher branches
If you need tools to prune larger trees, the THANOS HTML01 Extendable anvil Loppers is a great choice. These tools can cut through branches up to 2 inches in diameter. You can adjust the length to suit your needs.
These tools can be found in your garage or shed. If you have used them for a while, you should clean them and disinfect them before trimming the ornamental cherry. To clean the cutting surfaces of these tools, you can use 70% rubbing alcohol.
Keeping your blades clean before you use them will help to prevent cross-contamination between trees and other plants. To prevent rust, oil your tools after they have been cleaned and disinfected.
You should consult a professional if you feel uncomfortable pruning your tree or if the tree is too tall for you to reach from the top. You should ensure they are familiar with ornamental trees, and won’t just cut off all the branches.
Wound paints are not necessary
There are many tree stump sealants or wound paints available at your local hardware store. These products claim to promote the health and vitality after trimming trees. You may have noticed the distinctive black or white markings on trees after trimming, but these are not necessary.
These spray cans come in handy spray bottles and let you know that you have the product. However, a tree is better able to take care of its wounds. Trees have their own tools to treat pruning wounds. Pruning done correctly can save the tree’s life and help them heal.
According to the article Caring for Cherry Trees in Washington DC, the National Park Service has stopped using wound paints for cherry tree trees. Wound paints are no more effective in preventing or reducing decay or insect infestations on flowering cherries trees.
There You Have It!
Cherry blossoms are a wonderful addition to any garden or yard. With a little care, they can last for many years.
Proper pruning at the right time is important for tree longevity. Pruning is essential for extending the life of your tree. It keeps it strong and healthy, encourages growth, and promotes more flowers and foliage.
These are the 7 steps to prune your flowering cherries tree:
- Remove unhealthy branches
- Don’t “top” your tree
- Take out dead branches
- Clear out the tree’s canopy
- Take out unwelcome branches
- Trimming and suckers
- Take a step back, and take another look
Pruning flowering cherry trees does not have to be difficult or complicated. You can easily trim your cherry trees yourself with the right tools and some knowledge. This will ensure that your outdoor investment lasts many years.