When a large portion of the tree is removed during the dormant season, the energy reserves of the tree remain unchanged.

Thinning cuts are those which remove an entire shoot, branch, or limb up to the point of its origin and do an excellent job of opening up the canopy.ĭormant pruning is a more aggressive pruning. Keep in mind that summer pruning reduces the tree’s energy for fruit production as well as its growth, so this should be minimal using only thinning cuts. Sweet cherries are more susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases, especially on recently cut limbs, so it is best to prune them in the late summer. However, cutting back sweet cherries is an exception to this rule. The rule of thumb when pruning fruit trees is to do so when the tree is dormant during the winter. Trees that have been improperly pruned or trained tend to have upright branch angles, which may lead to limb damage under heavy fruit production. So in essence, when you trim a cherry tree back, it will be allowed to develop a proper form, yielding higher quality fruit earlier in its life and remaining healthier overall.

Cherry tree pruning allows for aeration, allowing light channels to penetrate the tree, allowing a better fruit set, ease of harvest, and the ability to battle or thwart disease. The primary reason for trimming cherry trees is to ensure the most optimal access to sunlight. Pruning cherries, or any fruit tree for that matter, is of paramount importance. The question is what is the proper method for cherry tree pruning? Let’s talk cherry tree pruning care. So, if you want a cherry tree that will provide maximum fruit production, ease of harvest and care, and is aesthetically pleasing in appearance, you’ll need to prune your tree. Whether sweet, sour, or weeping, knowing when to prune a cherry tree and knowing the correct method for cutting back cherries are valuable tools. All fruiting trees need to be pruned and cherry trees are no exception.

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