When to prune cherry trees in the fall and how to do it correctly
Cherry is a fast-growing fruit tree that requires constant care. One of the mandatory agrotechnical procedures is pruning. It increases productivity and extends the life of the plant. The event is not easy, and therefore requires careful study of the issue and adherence to the recommendations of experienced summer residents. In this article we will look in detail at how to renew and rejuvenate garden cherries and what is required for this.
Why prune cherries in the fall?
Autumn pruning improves the health of the plant. During the process, all diseased and old branches and dry leaves are removed. Regular pruning increases the lifespan of the cherry tree, increases the quantity and quality of the harvest. In addition, the procedure protects the plant from insect pests and diseases that appear on neglected trees.
If you do not prune the cherry tree in the fall, there is a high risk that in the spring of next year the tree will wake up weakened - the old branches take away most of the nutrients. All this leads to a decrease in yield.
Attention! If gardeners know in advance that they will not be able to prune cherries in the fall, they carry out the procedure at the end of August. By this time, the tree has already produced a harvest and is preparing for the upcoming winter.
Types of pruning
There are shaping, rejuvenating and regulating pruning. Each of them has specific goals and features.
Formative
Formative pruning is carried out both in autumn and spring.The purpose of the procedure is to give the tree crown a well-groomed and neat shape and prevent the appearance of diseases and insect pests.
If the plant is medium-sized and grows in a small area, the crown is given a bush-like shape; if it is tall and there is room for growth - tree-like. Molding begins from the first year after landings.
Rules for formative pruning:
- Gardeners recommend shortening the skeletal shoots of the second row so that they are the same in length.
- Next, remove all shoots that grow inside the crown and away from the trunk at an acute angle.
- Lastly, annual branches longer than 50 cm are pruned. It is necessary to ensure that all cherry shoots are approximately the same length. Such cherries look well-groomed and are characterized by high productivity.
Regulatory
Regulatory pruning lightens the crown of the cherry tree and prepares the shoots for the coming winter. It is used on mature trees from the age of 2-3 years.
Regulatory pruning also maintains the result obtained during the shaping procedure. Otherwise, the branches again grow in a chaotic order, which is why the crown loses its well-groomed appearance and the yield decreases. During the procedure, summer residents remove old and dried branches and shorten fruiting shoots by 10-20 cm.
Attention! There is an opinion that regulatory pruning only weakens the plant, and for cherries a formative procedure is sufficient. This is not true because all types of procedures complement each other. Problems arise only if pruning was not carried out according to the rules or the crop was not cared for afterwards.
Rejuvenating
Rejuvenating pruning is carried out on old trees or trees that have stopped bearing fruit. This is done only if the annual growth of branches is no more than 15 cm.
The procedure takes a lot of energy from the cherry, so the tree is first fed with complex mineral fertilizers, for example, “Zdraven” or “Gumi-Omi”. They nourish the soil, give the plant strength for further growth and development, and strengthen its immunity.
In the process, gardeners cut 90% of the total number of branches from the tree. The shoots are removed right down to the trunk so that new fruit-bearing skeletal branches will grow from them in a year. Also, during the process of anti-aging pruning, all diseased and pest-damaged branches are removed.
It is not recommended to leave stumps on the tree; this may cause the tree to freeze in winter.
Timing for pruning
Autumn pruning is carried out before the first frost - this is the main condition. In the south of the country it is the end of October, in central Russia - the end of September, in the north - the beginning of September.
The month and day are chosen individually, depending on weather conditions. The average daily temperature should not be lower than -5°C, otherwise pruning will cause severe stress to the plant. Also, on the day of the event there should be no gusty winds, rain or other precipitation.
How to properly prune cherries in the fall
Pruning is a difficult agrotechnical procedure with its own characteristics and secrets.
Before the event, gardeners prepare the necessary equipment and study pruning patterns.
Required materials and tools
The main tool is a sharpened pruner. It is suitable for young branches or shoots and does not leave torn cuts, which serve as a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.
If the cherry is old and anti-aging pruning is being done, use a saw. Before use, all garden tools are disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
And also summer residents prepare:
- lopper - for working in hard-to-reach places, for example, when branches are intertwined;
- garden shears with a non-slip handle - for very thin shoots;
- gardening gloves;
- garden varnish - for treating cuts after the procedure (it protects the cherry from diseases and helps to recover faster).
Autumn pruning schemes
Let's consider 2 autumn pruning schemes - for young and old trees. In the first case, summer residents begin to form a crown, since the cherry tree grows quickly and loses its shape:
- thin out young branches to prevent them from growing and thickening the crown;
- shorten all the branches that have grown over the last year, leaving 5-6 skeletal ones;
- pruning shoots that grow at an acute angle from the base of the trunk;
- Lubricate the cut areas with garden varnish.
When pruning old trees, the main task is to remove dry and diseased shoots. They are the ones who interfere with normal fruiting. If they are not removed, the tree will die. Afterwards, summer residents remove the chaotically growing branches and the lower row of skeletal ones.
If young shoots are visible, it is better to leave them - next year they will turn into fruit-bearing young shoots. It is also not recommended to remove too many branches at once. If the tree is in a neglected state, it is better to divide the pruning into several stages.
Attention! If the tree grows quickly, annually increasing the length of its shoots by 50 cm, it is recommended to manage with thinning rather than pruning. This will allow you to form a correct and neat crown and increase productivity.
Instructions
Regardless of the type of pruning and the age of the tree, experienced gardeners recommend following simple rules:
- do not cut off all the shoots along with the buds;
- start the procedure by removing old skeletal branches - they are the most powerful;
- trim branches with black-brown hardened bark to the base;
- for shoots with weak and thin tips, cut off 2/3 of the length;
- make the cuts oblique, and not at right angles - this way they heal faster;
- leave new growth;
- completely cut out the top branches.
Features of the procedure depending on the region
In the south of the country, pruning is carried out after the cherry tree has shed its leaves. This is convenient - the gardener sees all the branches and immediately determines which ones to shorten and which ones to leave on the tree. Thinning is also used in the southern regions. After the procedure, the tree is rejuvenated, the crown becomes well-groomed, and its one-sidedness or thickening disappears.
Thinning is the removal of unnecessary branches entirely. Thanks to it, the air-light regime of the cherry tree is normalized and the growth of young healthy shoots increases. You can thin out cherries at any time before the first frost.
In the middle zone of the country and in the north (in the Urals, Siberia), the day is chosen in advance - they study the weather forecast and prepare gardening tools. Otherwise, unpredictable weather can make it easy to miss the ideal time to prune.
Also, before and after the event, the plant is fertilized with fertilizers. They are applied 2-3 weeks before and 2-5 days after. This is especially true for varietieswho do not have strong immunity.
Tree care after pruning
After the procedure, the plant needs nutrition and hydration more than ever. It is recommended to sprinkle the base of the tree with a layer of mulch. This will protect the roots from freezing. Sawdust, dry grass or leaves, and peat are used as mulch. The latter is especially effective - when decomposed, it will enrich the earth with nutrients.
Then they pay attention to whitewashing.To prepare the solution, use 1 kg of lime, 1 kg of clay, 0.5 kg of mullein and 300 g of copper sulfate. The components are mixed together and applied to the trunk. Afterwards it is wrapped in natural fabric and garden netting. Thanks to copper sulfate, cherries are protected from fungal spores, and mullein repels rodents.
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Conclusion
Anti-aging pruning extends the life of the tree, regulating pruning normalizes the growth of new shoots, formative pruning is responsible for the appearance and health of the plant. Thin and young shoots are cut with pruning shears or scissors, thick and old shoots with a saw.
The cuts are made oblique and immediately smeared with garden varnish. The event is held before frost sets in. When choosing a scheme, take into account the type of tree - a seedling or an old plant, a bush or a tree.