Allow the tools to air dry. This will sterilize them so that they do not transmit any pathogens. Adopt good pruning habits that encourage cuts to heal quickly on your cherry tree, preventing disease and insect infection. Proper pruning techniques help to keep trees healthy and attractive. Yoshino cherry trees do not require pruning, but if you see any dead, diseased, or crowded branches, you should prune them when they appear. Unpruned trees may become overgrown and weak. Eliminate upright-growing shoots with sharp branch angles. Use the correct tools for the size of limb that you are cutting. Yoshino cherry trees do not require pruning, but if you see any dead, diseased, or crowded branches, you should prune them when they appear. Prune low-growing branches so they do not touch the ground. Prune flowering cherries more aggressively during the dormant season. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Fine Gardening: Pruning a Mt.Fuji Cherry Tree, Texas A&M Aggie Horticulture: Cherries, National Gardening Association: Cherry Care and Harvesting, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Training and Pruning Fruit Trees. Wipe dirt and debris from pruning tools using a clean rag. Pruning at this time encourages rapid healing rather than allowing wounds to remain open for an extended period of time; it also avoids winter injury. Few trees put on a performance in spring like the Yoshino Flowering Cherry tree. Backyard growers often ignore pruning, not wanting to deprive the tree of some of its magic. From Alaska to California, from France's Basque Country to Mexico's Pacific Coast, Teo Spengler has dug the soil, planted seeds and helped trees, flowers and veggies thrive. Shorten branches using heading cuts. She earned a BA from U.C. Eliminate dead, diseased and damaged wood -- what growers term the "three Ds." Inspect the tree for crossing branches that might rub together and infect; cut off the weaker of the two or the one more poorly placed. Do not prune heavily in the summer. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, University of Florida Extension: Disinfecting Pruning Tools, University of Kentucky Extension: Pruning Landscape Trees, University of Tennessee Extension: Best Management Practices for Pruning Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Ground Covers. Remove entire shoots back to side shoots. Be very careful not to leave a stub as this will interfere with healing. Whether sweet, sour or weeping, knowing when to prune a cherry tree and knowing the correct method for cutting back cherries are valuable tools.So, if you want a cherry tree that will provide maximum fruit production, ease of harvest and care, and is aesthetically pleasing in appearance, you’ll need to prune your tree. Susan Patterson is a health and gardening advocate. All fruiting trees need to be pruned and cherry trees are no exception. Pruning . Prune cherry trees immediately after blooming to promote new growth and flower display. Pruning . Remove all broken, diseased or dead limbs. Examine your flowering cherry tree each year and trim according to need. Santa Cruz, a law degree from U.C. Make all cuts back to the branch collar. Trimming should be light at this time. Use sharp clippers and remove branches flush with the underlying branch. Proper pruning techniques help to keep trees healthy and attractive. When buds are poised to break is the ideal moment to prune, according to Aggie Horticulture -- just as the cherry blossom buds begin to swell. When buds are poised to break is the ideal moment to prune, according to Aggie Horticulture -- just as the cherry blossom buds begin to swell. How to Prune an Okame Cherry. Keep your Yoshino tree tree verdant, beautiful and productive by knowing how to prune Yoshino cherry trees before you get started. Use cherry "wound compounds" for aesthetic reasons, but realize that they do not promote healing. Use hand shears to remove branches that are less than 1/2 inch in diameter, anvil clippers to remove dead limbs that are less than 1/4 inch in diameter and loppers to trim branches that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Proper pruning, however, not only increases the tree's productivity but also improves the quality of its fruit and the number of its flowers. Make cuts back to the branch collar being very careful not to damage the collar or the bark around the pruning cut. Use caution when working with sharp pruning tools. Pruning a cherry tree encourages blooming, removes undesirable growth, removes dead and diseased branches and shapes the tree. Make cuts flush with the adjacent branch without leaving stubs. Remove branches that cross over each other or rub against each other. Choose scaffold branches that spiral around the cherry tree's trunk, spaced 6 to 12 inches apart. Pruning is best done immediately after the tree flowers. Make cuts back to the branch collar, being careful not to damage surrounding bark or the collar. Native to Japan, the Yoshino cherry also has many other interesting assets such as a graceful branching pattern, glossy bark and dark green leaves which color well in the fall. Keep all equipment sharp and in excellent working order. Frequently Asked Questions The white to pink flowers blooming in early spring, before the leaves develop, can be damaged by late frosts or very windy conditions. Retain branches that grow from the center of the canopy outward. Yoshino cherry trees are some of the few trees in the United States that attract an audience. A professional writer and consummate gardener, Spengler has written about home and garden for Gardening Know How, San Francisco Chronicle, Gardening Guide and Go Banking Rates. Yoshino cherry trees are fast growers and will reach a final height of 35 to 45 feet with a 30- to 40-foot spread. Thin any branches that are outside of the desired shape. Yoshino Cherry grows quickly to 20 feet, has beautiful bark but is a relatively short-lived tree. Step back from the tree and assess the tree's natural shape. Prune cherry trees in late winter or early spring. The Yoshino Cherry tree, or Prunus x yedoensis, is an ornamental hybrid cherry tree from Tokyo that is now a recognizable staple in the Washington, D.C. area. If you want to prune for aesthetic reasons, early summer is the time—that way, you won’t prune any buds. Her passions include sustainable living, organic foods and functional fitness. Prune cherry trees sparingly in the summer, only to eliminate upright and vigorous current growth. An Okane cherry tree (Prunus x incam "Okame") is a smart choice for gardeners who long for an elegant cherry tree, but don't have the time to do a lot of maintenance. Imagine the shape you want to achieve. Thin selected branches back to the main trunk to allow light and air to penetrate the tree. Appropriate trimming opens up the tree canopy to light, critical for cherry blossom development and optimal cherry set, flavor and quality. Look closely at your cherry tree before you begin pruning. Pruning your cherry tree can be a challenging task if you do not know what branches to prune and when to prune them. Clemson University Extension: Cherry Prunus spp. Trim back unbranched lateral growth by 25 percent to encourage side branches. Pruning at this time is for shape and size. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. If you want to prune for aesthetic reasons, early summer is the time—that way, you won’t prune any buds. Make the cuts 1/4 inch above an outward-facing bud. Pruning a cherry tree is a straightforward task that requires no previous pruning knowledge, only the right tools and a little time. Berkeley's Boalt Hall, and an MA and MFA from San Francisco State. If you leave the inward facing buds on the tree it will cause crowding towards the center of the tree which will limit air circulation and light penetration. Clip off competing branches, as well as limbs that start in the outer area of the canopy and cross back through the center.