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The cherry trees can get quite old. The thickest bird cherry in Germany is in Blofeld (Hessen) and is estimated to be around 160-200 years old. Proper pruning can increase the life expectancy of old cherry trees.
How old do cherry trees get
The larger and slower the tree, the older it can get. The sour cherry trees (Prunus cerasus) grow quickly, remain relatively small and live on average 15-25 years. The slower and taller growing sweet cherry (Prunus avium) can live an average of 45-55 years.
But how can you tell how old a cherry tree is if you didn't plant it yourself, but took over the orchard from the previous owner? Just because the yields are declining doesn't necessarily mean that the tree is getting old. Fungal or pest infestation can also be the cause of yield fatigue.
On the Internet you can find various tables and sometimes quite adventurous instructions on how to calculate the age of a living tree yourself based on the trunk circumference, the number of main branches, etc. The result determined in this way can only be assumed to be an estimate. Determining the age using a core drilling test, which a garden professional carries out with a special drill, appears to be more reliable.
Rejuvenate an old cherry tree
One speaks of a rejuvenation cut when the crown is to be completely renewed. By radically cutting back the skeletal branches and extending the trunk, an old tree is stimulated to form new shoots. Pruning should be done after flowering or after harvest. Winter pruning is unfavorable for the cherries as it promotes water shoots. In addition, cuts heal less well in winter, especially on an old tree.
Perform the taper cut as follows:
- remove the dead and brittle branches, leaving enough young leafy branches,
- shorten the trunk extension and the guests by about a quarter,
- Cut back two- and three-year-old branches until the next fruit set,
- cut in such a way that an outward-pointing side branch remains immediately at the end,
- keep the wounds small and protect the edges with wound sealant.
tips and tricks
After the renewal cut in late autumn, give lime and in early spring complete mineral fertilizer increases the willingness to shoot.