How to Prune Your Cherry Trees

How to prune your cherry tree. In this video, I’m pruning a juvenile Bing cherry tree that is about 5 years old.

[@ronaldmeyers6525]

I've watched no less than 30 videos and read dozens of articles in regards to cherry pruning, but none of them gave me the confidence to start cutting up my baby cherry tree (4 years old now). This is the best one I've watched so far, and I'm now looking forward to my first pruning session this winter. Thanks man!

[@hippiechickoffgridmaine8625]

Just subbed because of this video. Someone i can watch and understand as a newbie.

[@Vinnie-cv5qv]

Best cherry tree pruning video out there, and I have watched many. I have a Stella cherry tree that is so overgrown and about 12 years old. I get tons of cherries but I will start pruning using your techniques. I get the cherries from the lower branches and the birds get the higher ones.

[@tadetlugnt1]

Thank you, best tutorial ever.

[@vickybrown5047]

So glad I found this video, perfect timing. I received 4 Bing sweet cherry trees, as my mother's day gift, 4 sons, 4 trees, blessed.

[@kenwilson5349]

I have a 5yr old cherry tree which has never been pruned, just a tall tree 9ft with leaves on top ..can I cut tree to 4ft in spring? Ty

[@newbie_nugs]

Can't wait to see updates from this winter's pruning and the apple tree's also. Thanks for the video.

[@creamndross4552]

Thanks for this! A great tutorial with a lot of helpful info. Thanks for giving the reasoning behind what you're doing it was especially helpful.

[@mayan3678]

Thanks for very informative video! It’s great to see close up of buds and explaining between fruit buds and vegetative buds. Excellent job!!👍

[@shaniqua418]

Great video and explanation! Appreciate the detail and reasons behind what you are doing!

[@quickbeam36]

I hope you post an update of what this tree looks like this year, and if you are pruning it again. Really well explained and demonstrated!

[@lindabunter844]

I live in Victoria Australia and discovered one of the trees in my backyard is a cherry tree, to my absolute delight. Your video is so informative and easy to understand. I have learned so much from it. Thank you 😀🙏

[@christinemama1]

You have been one of the very few video producers that explain everything so clearly! Learned a lot from this video! Good job!

[@TofferJ-UK]

I’ve recently planted a semi dwarf Morrello cherry here in the UK. It was supplied perfectly pruned, but this video is a great lesson for the future. The best tutorial on fruit pruning that I’ve seen. Thanks 👍

[@olgashaw8600]

Excellent tutorial. Clear explanations and good demonstration how to prune fruit trees. Thank you VERY MUCH from the UK and Ukraine! 👍🍒🍐🍎😊

[@halimhadjameur3585]

Excellent work. thank you

[@childcrone]

Thank you. I'm starting a learning journey about cherry tree pruning because I have two old, neglected trees that are very overgrown that I want to start restoring. I'm going to need a couple kinds of saw for this first year's phase of my project. Even though your video here is on a young tree, I learned some essentials about vegetative vs fruiting wood, reading the buds, general shape/structure, and some of the thought behind choosing where to cut.

[@patsih883]

I live in Indiana and I watched your video and it is just fascinating. ❤ I put it in my favorites for future use. You did a great job of explaining how to trim: I have a sour cherry tree and this video was so easy to follow. Thank you so much posting it. 😊

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

Thank you 😊 glad I could help!

[@chelseahall4017]

I misheard you at first. I heard “butt clusters” - which quickly cemented the term in my head. Ha! This is the level of detail and explanation I have been searching for on ag extensions for years, so thank you. The “why” in what you are doing is what helps it all click. Pruning is an art - Sending this to my husband - he tends to take a pole saw to everything.

[@trangvo3956]

Thanks for advice ❤

[@alexrichardson6461]

This guy knows a lot!

[@dfu1685]

I am hoping we get to see the apple tree pruning soon? Great instructional video. I’m watching for a second time to freshen up before the pruning.

[@mickreilly4930]

Great tutorial. 👍 I will now be able to identify fruiting versus vegetative buds/growth..and prune accordingly. Also, shape the tree.

[@juliosdiy3206]

Nice little tree it looks very productive.

[@sleepydrJ]

Great teaching!! Would love to see a follow up video too.

[@ninadardi7748]

Thank you. Great tutorial!

[@dombone76]

great stuff!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@63Lsp]

Thanks! I just moved into a house w huge cherry trees that I need to prune so we can see some sky in our yard! You're really good at instructing- I'd love it if you could wear a Lavalier lapel mic-my hearing's not the best and I could mostly hear the close-up shots (you can get a mic for around $25). Looking forward to the next one!

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

I bought one shortly after this video 🙂. Glad to be able to help. I will try and remake this video down the road once I get better at this whole filming thing and nervousness 😂

[@63Lsp]

@@bambooacresfarm1962 You were awesome, and so was the camera work!

[@kristywakatsuki4142]

Great video, thank you

[@jpinkerton0531]

I planted 3 tiny cherry trees about 3 years ago and haven't touched them because I couldn't find a *good* tutorial and I was afraid I'd do them more harm. Your video is very informative and helpful and I feel like I have enough information to get them spruced up this year. Thank you! I was reading that sweet cherries should be pruned at the end of summer and sour cherries while they are still dormant. Do you follow that schedule?

[@cyndidaves5313]

Hi, thanks for the cherry tree pruning information. You were very informative for a beginner pruner. One Q: what time of year are you pruning? Thanks again

[@tienlam8292]

Thanks

[@maxplank4083]

Excellent video however truthfully the music in the background could have been eliminated. I found it slightly distracting.

[@TeeDubb.]

What music It’s so low that I can hardly hear it.. Voice is easily heard and quite crisp for me personally

[@kalpreddy]

Excellent Explanation! In my cherry tree, the tag attached has partially burrowed in to the main stem (within 2ft from ground). What can I do? I tried to pull it, partially got cut and the remaining is inside the trunk.

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

As long as it doesn’t entirely cover all the way around the tree, you should be okay. Hopefully you were able to get at least half of it off? There is a good chance it will stunt the growth for a year or two until the cambium layer can fully scar over and essentially grow over it. Keep an eye on the wound of the tree. You may see sap building up in the area which is common. Your biggest concern is not letting pests and or diseases inside the wound. They do make a paste that you can cover the effected area and should be able to get some at a local plant nursery if needed.

[@75shadystorm]

Does this apply to choke cherry trees also? I have a bunch in the backyard forest that have been choked out from honeysuckle. Most are going straight up because of competition. Would it be a good idea to trim them back also for more fruit production?

[@guywilliams3108]

I like to get the shape of my tree formed at a younger age your lower branches will rise up as the tree gets older you don't want that tree to be too high.

[@blubberry7448]

👍

[@twodogs91]

Good info, thank you! Wandering how long the trimmed growth of a new branch should be...looks like 8 to 10 inches (?) were left. And it looks like a very wet swampy ground!?

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

I’m not sure I understand your first question but yes the ground is wet because we are next to a pond there but I am about a 1-2’ above the water level there so the roots are not in standing water.

[@marjorieprezioso4750]

When is the best time of year to prune a cherry?

[@gianttorture9640]

Great information - thank you. I have 2 cherry trees we planted about 2 months ago (Feb - warm in NorCal). There are now leaves growing up and down the trunk, do I trim these off?

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

Above or below the graft? Never let leaves/branches form below the graft line. The bottom graft stock plant will quickly take over and ultimately kill your desires grafted cherry tree because they typically grow more vigorous and produce little to no fruit.

[@ryanfeeley2407]

Tyipcally leave them while young. They can help prevent sun scald.

[@Pasquali369]

I am in Takilma, Oregon. The internet says I'm in zone 8. I purchased Two varieties of cherry trees, two apples, two pears, two figs, one nectarine and one Plum. How will weather affect me?

[@pamelah6431]

Is that big tree right next to it being cut down eventually?

[@p.j.d.8199]

What do you do if your tree is around 6 ft tall and has a main branch going right up the center that is pretty thick and taller then the side leads? I want to try and keep my fruit trees not much taller than 6 or 7 ft if possible even though they aren't dwarfs, is that possible?

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

Remember the rule of 1/3rds when pruning. I would find a good cluster of lateral branches to be your new main branches and cut out the center personally but it’s entirely up to you.

[@petrisorserdaru4309]

Hi,I prunned the cherry tree and the last bud was a fruiting bud and flowers are coming.What will happen next ? It will be switched to a vegetative bud ? Growing bud ?

[@yaima0901]

I have a tree that’s 2-3 years old it had beautiful leaves but all of the sudden they started browning and eventually falling, right now the tree has no leaves and the few that grew also died. I live in Texas 100+ temperatures every day this summer but since I have it in a container I transferred it to a more shady place. It has a lot of buds but tree looks like it’s dying or 95% dead and Idk what to do. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated! Thanks!!!

[@Pasquali369]

Looks a little boggy there. Does that have a negative impact on the trees? I read that cherries like sandy, well-draining soil.

[@bambooacresfarm1962]

It is pretty wet right there being that I have the pond so I planted about 1’ above the water line. The cherry tree you see here has been in the ground for about two years now and as you can see, no problem. The only thing I have to really battle is how much light it gets so I have to stay on top of pruning back any other surrounding trees. As far as what you purchased in general those should all be okay in that area most likely but you will have to check on each variety to see specifically what they can handle climate wise.

[@Pasquali369]

Thanks! =o)

[@guywilliams3108]

I think you need to take it back below that big mess you got right in the middle its probably going to have to come off anyway in in the years to come and the longer you wait the more cherry blossoms you can end up cutting off. Better to do it earlier.

[@Donnie_M.]

That canker in the crotch of that tree is going to be very problematic for the health of the tree.

[@carolfreeman2962]

I can't hear you.