How to Pruning Weeping Cherry Tree

In this video, Green's Lawncare & Property Services's Owner (Matt), discusses the proper ways to prune a Weeping Cherry Tree. The same techniques can be used to successfully prune a Dwarf Japanese Maple.
First, you want to cut out all of the dead branches leaving only the branches with live buds remaining. Once all the dead is removed, you can begin cutting out the branches that cross and are touching each other. We do this to eliminate the bark from being removed from rubbing which can lead to the tree getting a disease. Do not worry if you make a couple incorrect cuts, the tree will be just fine and re-grow buds. You want to reduce the canopy by 20-30% to keep it light and airy.
Remember you do not want to make it look "perfect", you want it to remain looking as natural as possible.
Although we no longer offer routine landscape maintenance for #BroadRipple #Meridian-Kessler #Westfield #Fishers area home if you need #fertilization or #pestcontrol, feel free to give #GreensLawncare a call to discuss your needs. You can reach us at 317-748-3153 or visit us at www.greenslcps...

[@wendywilson81]

OMG I've been waiting for this exact video! I have an old weeping cherry in my garden that is OUT OF CONTROL! I was terrified to prune it, but I feel better about tackling that now. Thank you!

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

You bet! Let us know if there are any other video you want to see

[@LateNightRon]

It's June here and I was just about to whack my cherry tree and thought "eh... I better check to make sure I'm doing the right thing at the right time" -- excellent video. Thanks! Mine is completely out of control as well, and will trim back in Feb or so. One suggestion I would have is maybe showing the after of this tree and how it looks in the spring. Thanks for the video!

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@gai252]

Best video on pruning weeping cherry tree. By far!!!

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Thank you

[@chai_wolf]

This is helpful! Thanks! I got a weeping cherry tree years ago as a sapling and now it's almost as tall as me. It's not quite as out of control as the tree in the video but it's getting there. It finally had a few flowers this year too.

[@karenc6549]

Thanks for this info! Exactly what I was looking for as I tackle the beast in our front yard.

[@subskull33]

Just bought a property with one of these growing on it. Very helpful video! Thank you!

[@jessicaallen6954]

Thank you so much! This video was very helpful!

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Glad to help!

[@elaineclark6210]

Best video I have seen !! Thank you Sir !!

[@barbarawood403]

We have a weeping cherry that was gorgeous about 5 years ago. The tree is about 20 years old and the last few years, the buds have been really scarce. I can't figure out what is keeping it from blooming. It's March 5 today and this weekend, I'm going to cut out the dead stuff underneath and then fertilize. Hoping that will bring blossoms back to my tree. Did not realize until watching this video that WC trees should be cleaned up every year. Wish I had known earlier so I could have done this in the Fall! Thanks for the info!

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

It will bounce back. Just have to be patient. If its really bad, may want to hire a company that does tree and shrub fertilizing.

[@skycam509]

Thanks for the great video! Someone told me to cut off any branches that are growing upward to maintain the weeping shape. I didn't see you doing anything like that. Will those branches eventually hang down?

[@IvoryBayouWoodworks]

Helpful video with my tree I planned last year! Also, 'moist... heh heh heh.'

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Hope it helped!

[@jemmemccann2952]

Can’t believe nobody else commented about you almost losing it saying “moist and wet.”

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

I blame it on the camera man, his minds in the gutter!

[@deanofdisplacement]

So.... since you are speaking of the "live buds"....... I am assuming the time to do this is in the spring after the buds form? What about fall maintenance? Any advice there?

[@janetsadeghi1501]

Excellent video! Thank you. Can I grown one in a pot?

[@snehag2786]

It’s June in Melbourne. My tree has buds… is it ok to prune now?

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Not recommended if your tree already has buds

[@h166rock]

Very helpful video, Thank you! Have you ever used wire to form weeping nicely? Cannot wait blossom in spring

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

No need for wire on a true weeping tree.

[@josephwalsh3987]

Great video very helpful when is the best time to prune? If buds started to blossom is it to late to prune? Thanks

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

The best time to prune them is late fall once they lose their leaves.

[@frankletizia7835]

Do I have to trim the tree every season ? Planted last fall. Thanks for showing.

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

no, not at all.

[@internalinjectiontrulyhere6182]

Cherry Go TreE

[@mrosas2403]

It’s is summer time where I live couple more weeks till fall should I just wait to prune my cherry weeping tree fall time ??? I have branches touching the ground right now which drives me crazy but I just want to do the right thing and when is it best time to prune it

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Wait until the tree has gone dormant. It's much easier to do when the tree has no leaves. Although, if you did it now, you would not harm the tree.

[@jessicamerson8866]

Thank you for this video! I have one in my backyard. Do you have any suggestions for when some of the branches grow straight up? Which I guess aren’t part of the cherry tree. It’s thick and healthy so I’m afraid to hurt the tree by cutting it off.

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Hey Jessica, is there anyway to post a picture of the tree in the comments? I would need to see it to tell you.

[@yajingsong3962]

thank you for your video. I recently found a lot of white caterpillars inside the stem of the tree, and half of the stem already gone. Is there any way to save the tree? Thank you

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

That's super interesting. I've never heard of that. We aren't arborist, so I would recommend reaching out to some with more education on pest problems. I'm not sure what state you are in, but most states have local extension office paid for by universities. You can reach out to them.

[@cgarb]

Great video...so i hear that the best time to trim is late fall early spring. I trimmed in the late fall, its an umbrella, about 5 ft above the ground...and now the trees branches have already reached the ground. Im afraid to trim it in the spring and summer since i hear so much that it bleeds...but the tree grows like a weed. What do i do? Do i trim it as it grows to keep the umbrella shape throughout spring summer or let it go?

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

We trimmed this guy around Feb./March.

[@keishashawber2655]

I have read the comment above about trimming in fall or early spring, is there anything I can do now in July that won't harm the tree? I have never cut the dead branches underneath and there are a lot. we've had the tree around 14 years. I've kept it short so not touching ground. I wish I had known how to properly maintain. it's out of control right now.

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

For the health of the tree, I would wait. Especially during the hottest parts of the season. The tree's are struggling. So cutting them will cause them to have to fix their "wounds" and use valuable resources.

[@nickolaistefko7744]

This is awesome. Can I prune now, when it’s summer?

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

I would not do it in the summer. I would wait until late fall.

[@aydenrb2419]

We just purchased a Snow fountain and I am scared i am over watering it. any tips on how to start it to grow?

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

Tree's are very resilient. You don't need to water it a ton. If its brand new transplant, I would water it every couple days then move to once a week, eventually you won't water it and let mother nature handle that for you. If you are seeing wilt or you feel its not doing well, then it's because you are drowning the tree in water. Get the roots really wet (10-15 minutes, just let a hose soak it slowly) then let the soil dry out for a couple days and repeat that throughout the summer

[@dacar7495]

I moved into my first house about 3 1/2 years ago and I have a grafted weeping cherry in my front yard that is a little more mature than the one in the video. I haven’t pruned it since I moved in and I just started to tackle it today. I’m a little nervous because I had to cut a lot out because about half of it was dead branches. Do you think it will make it? Some of the branches have what looks like fungus growing on them. I estimate that the tree is about 26 years old (age of house)

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

The tree should make it. Make sure there isn't a lot of mulch built up around the base of the trunk. That will cause root rot. But you pruning out all of the dead will allow more nutrients to be diverted to the healthy branches and really make it vibrant next season. You are doing the right thing! Also, there are a lot of fungus' on trees that only live on the bark, but it does not affect the tree at all. They co-exist well.

[@conniepresley8211]

@@BlueDuckLawnCare am I to trim a few tall branches on top?

[@mattsalada930]

How far back should it be cut back during those every-three-to-four year cut-backs mentioned in the video? It has been at least that long since mine were trimmed significantly. I'd like to cut them back as much as possible.

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

You can trim them back quite a bit and they will be fine.

[@angelamcallister2603]

So if i dont want my weeping cherry tree to grow 20 to 30 feet high, I can just trim it down so it stays around 10 to 15 feet?? correct...

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

This is a dwarf weeping cherry and is grafted so it won't grow past this height. You never want to "top" a tree to keep it at a certain height. You want it to grow to its full potential. If you want it to stay smaller you will want a different tree in that area.

[@dand33911]

@@BlueDuckLawnCare What about if your weeping cherry is over 30' with a 14" diameter trunk. Its grown around the front porch roof. If it can't be topped, it has to go. Will it die anyway, or can I top it without it dying?

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

@@dand33911 The tree probably will not die. Trees are pretty good at adjusting to the enviroment. However, the root system is probably wrecking havoc on your foundation. Trees should never be planted within 10ft of your foundation.

[@dand33911]

@@BlueDuckLawnCare Thanks for the response. The tree is at the end of the porch, which is 12' deep. I'd say the tree itself it probably 16-18' from the foundation. I can see where the tree originally all went down, began weeping, theres a 6-8" "branch" that goes strait up about 15' from there. Almost as tall as a colonial house. Plan is to just lose that whole branch. Tree will be about 15' total after.

[@twilawick2255]

How to bring them back to life when you replant them

[@maureenmcgrath3734]

My tree has roots around it on top of the ground. What does this mean?

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

You have girdled tree roots. I this can kill the tree. I would recommend giving a certified arborist a call and have them do some "root surgery" using an air spade.

[@maureenmcgrath3734]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your help.

[@SoldierOfChristAlmighty]

Oraleeè ❤

[@zombiecuck7658]

I bought a house with a very neglected weeping cherry. Can I hack away pretty much everything and let it start a new or will it kill it? It's beyond overgrown

[@BlueDuckLawnCare]

There is a good chance it will die if you hack away too much. Tree's photosynthesis through their leaves and if you hack away too much then it won't be able to produce its food.