[SusieB]

I have a cherry tree in a pot (that I may plant in open ground).  It has a leader and three long branches.  All the branches are bare apart from clusters of leaves at the ends.  How and when can I prune the tree to make it a better shape?

[wasthiswise]

The RHS website has info on pruning cherries:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Fruit-A-to-Z/Cherries

[sunshineband]

As it such a young tree I would be careful not the overprune it.

If you are aiming to grow it as an open goblet shape, you could reduce the height of the leader now. Doing it at the time in the year (just time) while the tree is still in full leaf reduces the chance of silverleaf disease taking hold.

I hope that helps a bit

[gobs]

Sunshine, you must be talking, not now, surely.


You prune stone fruit in dry season, spring/summer. You do not need to prune them in the first place for a good crop, unless space limitations, not for gardening reasons as such, other than disease and damage of all sorts.

If you have to prune them for whatever reason, make sure you educate yourselves about what you are doing, you can waste away all next year's crop easily.

A young cherry especially does need no pruning. If you want to shape it, do it in May/June dry time. And check for what fruit you are losing.

[Sparkyrog]

I have to Agree would never prune any stone fruit this late in the season !

[sunshineband]

Round here Sepetmber is still OK

[gobs]

Oh, I see. Could well be. We just do not know where the poster is. You might do as well.