Japanese ornamental cherries are more sensitive to pruning than native cherry trees. From time to time, however, a pruning can make sense so that the fairy tale of flowers is repeated for many years. Read this guide to learn when and how to expertly cut an ornamental cherry.

Ornamental cherries should be cut as little as possible

Rarely cut ornamental cherries

As a shrub or tree crown, the ornamental cherry forms a stable framework with blossom wood that remains vital for many years. Her lavish clusters of flowers appear on annual spurs sprouting from biennial and older branches. In conjunction with a pronounced sensitivity to cutting, this growth results in a low need for cutting.

Thin out occasionally in spring

So that an ornamental cherry can form its characteristic habit undisturbed, you should not carry out any pruning measures in the first five to six years. This applies regardless of whether you cultivate the flowering shrub as a tree or shrub. After the development years, check every year whether dead shoots are obstructing or shading the valuable blossom wood. With a clearing cut you ensure a light-flooded, flowering growth. How to proceed professionally:

  • The best time is in early spring when temperatures are above freezing
  • Thin out dead and unfavorably growing shoots
  • Cut off deadwood in the ornamental cherry tree on a branch, remove in the bush at ground level

Careful pruning is important so that a thinning cut does not destroy the characteristic growth habit of an ornamental cherry. After each cut, please take a few steps back to plan how to proceed.

Moderate topiary after flowering

Over the years, an ornamental cherry tends to develop overly long, drooping branches with dense whorls at the tips. Under this load, the treetop and bush seem to fall apart, which is not conducive to the well-groomed appearance. This behavior is the most common reason for a regulating shape cut. The best time is after the flowering period, before the buds are laid for next year.

Shorten overhanging branches to the desired length by using the derivative pruning technique. To do this, keep an eye out for a young shoot that is further inward, pointing outwards. Use the scissors where the young wood branches off.

On an older ornamental cherry, the buds at the tips of the shoots are sometimes close together and sprout like whorls. Slim down these shoots by cutting off the strongest side shoots.

Remove wild shoots immediately

The most magnificent ornamental cherries thrive as a graft on a robust wild base. As a result, wildlings sprout below the thickened grafting point. Vigorously, these shoots strive to overgrow the noble ornamental cherry to gain the upper hand in the race to the light. Please check the bush and tree crown regularly for overgrowth in order to remove the nosy shoots promptly.

tips

When cutting an ornamental cherry, you should avoid cuts with a diameter of more than 10 centimeters. In contrast to native woody plants, the Asian flower beauty has a hard time forming woundwood. Excessively large wound areas are not completely overwhelmed by callus, which attracts diseases and pests.

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Trees