[Fatil]

Hi

I have inherited an allotment with a cherry tree on it and lots of suckers around the base, some fairly well established.  I've been told to get rid of these so the tree can focus its energy on producing fruit.  How do I do this without damaging the tree or making it susceptible to disease?  Also, when is the best time to do this?

Thanks

[gillie]

Wait a few weeks until the tree is in growth and then chop off all the suckers.  It might make the tree a bit more susceptible to fungal diseases which is why you do it when the tree is growing fast and will heal quickly. 

However if you do not take them off the suckers will indeed take over, and as they are almost certainly from the rootstock they will not bear decent fruit.

[Rangerkris]

After a pruning course at Brogdale i would not bother to much about infection as they didnt seem to bother much at all about the way the prune.