skip to main content

Cherry tree ID and pruning help

11 years ago

We bought this place this winter. There are two cherry (I think) trees next to the driveway. The branches scrape our cars so what would be te best way to prune? I'd love to know what kind they are if possible. They had a bunch of suckers coming up at the bases.ill post a closer photo in the follow up. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

ms.idaho
Original Author
11 years ago
Close up
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
thats not a cherry hanging from it..

it looks more like a purple crabapple ...

or maybe a plum...

wait.. suckers.. crabapple ... lol ...

were these upright... when you posted them ...

you prune them.. as i mentioned in your other post ... ANY WAY YOU WANT .... with proper cuts ...

should be a great flower show in a week or so .... or did we miss that ?????

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
Related Discussions
Cherry Tree Pruning HELP.
Q
Comments (1)
90 degrees to the left
...See More
Advice on pruning Bing cherry tree.
Q
Comments (6)
I have a few cherry and pear trees of the same size and for the last two years the rabbits have been prunning them for me and they are very bad prunners. They do this prunning when the ground is covered with a foot or more snow and nothing else to eat (other than cedar hedges which they don't eat). There is something in the fruit trees wood that attracts the rabbits for food. They leave their pooh as fertilizer for the tree as reward. I knew this may happen so I put burlap around one of the new bing cherry plant and I saw squirrel pulling down the burlap and cutting pieces from it, collecting it in the mounth and later taking to the nest for decoration to make it comfortable for the coming Ontario harsh winter. So, it is going to be the chicken wire next year which may allow me to do some prunning to my liking.
...See More
Pruning comice pear tree and cherry tree.
Q
Comments (0)
I have a comice pear tree that is overgrown (probably 12 feet tall). I don't think it has ever been pruned before. There's no main trunk that goes all the way to the top. Instead, the main trunk goes up to around 4' and then as it continues up, it successively branches into 4 "trunks", all pointing vertically. Also, there's another smaller comice pear tree growing out of the ground right next (touching) to the trunk of the original comice pear tree. That sucker(?) is around 7' tall. I don't know how old the original pear tree is (it came with the house), but it bore 6 fruit last year. How do I prune the original comice pear tree such that it is not so tall? What do I do with the smaller pear tree growing right next to it? Do I chop it off at ground level or try to dig it out? The cherry tree (came with the house too) was trained to be an espalier, but then neglected, so that the main trunk and topmost branches shot upwards until it reached about 10'. How do I prune the cherry tree? Can anyone help? Thanks so much!
...See More
Pruning cherry tree
Q
Comments (3)
There are some nice scaffold branches so you could actually take the leader off right down above the branch on the right (second picture). That'll produce a nice spreading tree. you could also prune it just above the upward shoot on the left side (second picture), that'll produce a second scaffolding whirl, will end up taller than 8' though. But you could always do more detail work in the future.
...See More
Embothrium
11 years ago
Flowering crabapple. Probably very little need for pruning at this point.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
suckers need to be removed ...

they are probably not the foo foo tree above.. i bet green leaved.. and not the purple ...

in other words.. its a grafted tree ... and the understock is throwing up shoots .... an inherent problem with crabs ....

ken
ms.idaho
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks all! Darn, I was really hoping for cherries...although the pictures of the crab apples in bloom are gorgeous. Can't wait until it happens. Now to find a way to prune it from overhanging the driveway without making them look lopsided.

On a semi-related note, both trees are leaning, one more than the other. Nt sure what causes this..if they were planted crooked or something else. Is there a way to remedy this? Should we even bother?

Thanks again!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
forget about the lean.. improper planting ...

if you want ideas on how to prune .... then we need a closer pic of the tree ...

when young.. it could have been easily trained.. to a higher level.. i fear... that you might not be able to accomplish such.. though i cant focus deep enough into the picture to tell ...

these things are a dime a dozen .... replaceable for around $20 or so ..

here is your mind set ... enjoy it for a year or two [or less!!!].. learn about it.. hack on it.. try to get it into some preferable shape.. and if it doesnt work out.. GET RID OF IT .... and plant your own mistakes.. lol ...

it was improperly planted.. improperly sited.. and most likely.. improperly cared for ..

when i moved into my first home.. i spent 5 years trying to save every nightmare the prior owners left.. and then the day i got rid of the last one.. was the happiest day of my life at that house..

there is no reason to live with a problem...

ken

ps: and then you have a reason to get the cherry you want.. and plant it far enough form the driveway.. that it wont be a problem ... BTW ... there are flowering cherry that never have fruit.. and the fruit tree ... so if you want fruit.. i suggest you find the FRUIT forum.. and ask them.. which is best for your area ...
Embothrium
11 years ago
Bushy, irregular growth comes with the territory when you are growing crabs - the point of the decorative kinds is a mass display of flowers (and maybe fruits as well) - the common brutal topping and thinning of these is completely counterproductive.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Plant Black Cherry Trees for the Birds and Bees

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant Prunus serotina in the Central and Eastern U.S. for spring flowers, interesting bark and beautiful fall color

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why

WINTER GARDENING How to Help Your Trees Weather a Storm

By Paintbox Garden

Seeing trees safely through winter storms means choosing the right species, siting them carefully and paying attention during the tempests

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Luscious Cherries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Nope, they’re not the easiest fruit to grow. But with spectacular blossoms and pies as possibilities, cherries are sure worth a try

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Native Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style

By Oakley Gardens

Imagine the garden of your dreams designed with plants indigenous to your region

Ideabook 911: I Need Help Staging for Resale

By Becky Harris

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Create a Whole-House Color Palette

By Laura Gaskill

Don't be daunted. With these strategies, building a cohesive palette for your entire home is less difficult than it seems

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell

By Lurdes Abruscato

Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market

Ideabook 911: Help Me Finish My Foyer

By Becky Harris

Sponsored

M&Z Home Services LLC

1 Review

Franklin County's Established Home Remodeling Expert Since 2012

More Discussions

Is This a Sandbox Tree?

1

Japanese Maple for sun/shady deck

2

Oh no, tree leader broken off

14

Is it normal for new trees to have 8"of solid clay in the root ball?

6

Does this crabapple require a professional trimmer?

1