How to Prune a Bare Root Cherry Tree When Planting

Planting a cherry tree is an exciting event, preparing for the future of your garden and your taste buds. However, planting a bare root cherry tree requires some extra care and attention, particularly when it comes to pruning. Pruning helps to encourage healthy growth and fruit production while ensuring that your tree remains in a manageable size. Here is how to prune a bare root cherry tree when planting:

Step 1: Remove Damaged or Diseased Branches

Before planting your bare root cherry tree, examine its branches for signs of damage or disease. If you notice any broken or diseased branches on your tree, carefully remove them with a pruning saw. This step is crucial to prevent further damage and encourage healthy growth.

Step 2: Identify and Remove the Central Leader

Once you have removed any damaged or diseased branches, it's time to identify the central leader on your tree. The central leader is the tallest and strongest branch on your cherry tree, which grows straight up from the top of the trunk. Remove any competing central leaders by cutting them back to the main trunk. This will help encourage one central leader to grow and keep your tree in a manageable height.

Step 3: Trim Back Lateral Branches

Next, you'll need to trim back the lateral branches on your cherry tree. Look for any branches growing horizontally out from the main trunk or central leader, and cut them back to just a few buds. Trimming back these branches will help direct the tree's energy towards vertical growth, which is important for healthy fruit production.

Step 4: Cut Back Any Overgrown Branches

If you notice any branches that are significantly longer than the others, you'll need to cut them back as well. This helps to ensure that the nutrients are distributed evenly throughout the tree, instead of being concentrated in one area. Cut overgrown branches back to just above a leaf node where the leaf was last year, to encourage new growth for the upcoming season.

Step 5: Maintain Your Pruning Throughout the Growing Season

Once you've planted your cherry tree, it's essential to continue pruning it throughout the growing season. This will help to keep the tree in good condition and ensure that it produces high-quality fruit. Trim back any new growth on the central leader and lateral branches as necessary, and remove any additional damaged or diseased branches as soon as you identify them.

Pruning a bare root cherry tree when planting may seem intimidating, but it's a vital step in ensuring the health and longevity of your tree. Remember to prune cautiously, cutting back only what is necessary and never removing more than one-third of the tree in a single growing season. With this approach, your cherry tree will thrive, producing delicious and bountiful fruit for years to come.