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one-sided cherry branches pattern

11 years ago

Our cherry tree just dropped the leaves which exposed it's branches structure and made me worry. It's 4 years old, it is on the southen side of the house, but not directly by the house - it is in an open area on the south-facing corner of the property. And it's been healthy, and had small crops of fruit. But the branches all grow towards North. Mature branches bend towards north. This year's branches lean north. There are some branches that go from South to North - across the center. Would that mean I need to prune them down? How do I handle it?

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
any chance at a picture???

is this a fruit tree .. rather than an ornamental??? there would be different pruning rules depending on what is important.. as in.. flowers or fruit ... in other words.. whats its role in life ...

fruit peeps do things wildly different than true tree peeps ... the same question might be posed in that forum ...

all that said ... what difference does it make to you .... how it develops its branching ... but is otherwise healthy??? .. are you the type.. that is it going to drive you crazy all winter.. looking at it w/o leaves??? ... and dont get me wrong.. it is an important variable ... do we make the tree happy.. or you happy ...

ken
jollyrd
Original Author
11 years ago
It is a fruiting - sour montmorency cherry. I can live with its weird shape. I am not going to lose sleep over it. My concern is the overal health of the tree - does the branches' pattern indicate problem with light exposure? Will it affect the production? If the crown keeps developing lop-sided - will the tree have structural problem later in life? Those are my concerns. I will try to post picture later today.
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brandon7 TN_zone7
11 years ago
OK, so what you are saying is that all the branches are growing towards your house? Surely something must be blocking it's southern exposure light? We must be missing some info here. Tell us more.

"does the branches' pattern indicate problem with light exposure?"

Very, very likely, but without more info we can't really tell.

"Will it affect the production?"

Again, we don't know what's going on yet. If the tree's sun exposure is being significantly blocked, that would definitely effect production.

"If the crown keeps developing lop-sided - will the tree have structural problem later in life?"

Not necessarily. Also, proper pruning and staking/branch-spreading/manipulation (which is very commonly employed with edible fruit trees) may be very useful.
jollyrd
Original Author
11 years ago
This is a picture of tree - it was taken at 2 pm, and I am standing at the house SW corner, I am facing west, the sun is on the left (and low due to it being fall), but in spring and summer it is directly over the tree. There is nothing in front of the tree, it does not get any shade from the house.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
weird ...

apparently.. contrary to what you think.. it is having light issues ...

but what does that matter if it is vigorous.. and fruits ... that really is the key .. if it performs.. its not really for us to say otherwise ...

it looks like there are others behind.. they may do the same ... who knows ...

one thing for sure.. do NOT give it a hair cut.. into a perfect lollipop shape ... pruning for fruit production is much more mysterious ... lol ... and i would recommend you talk to the fruit peeps about such ..

good luck

ken

PS: i have small hills in my yard ... no more than 6 to 8 feet over 50 feet ... the darn trees grow due north.. leaning into the hill [ever so slightly mind you] .. and often into the prevailing wind ... in absolute full sun.. i am sorry.. i have no explanation for such ... and no experienced tree peep has ever given me anything other than wild guesses as to why ....

pps: i am wondering.. at bud/branch extension ... still due to the declination of the sun .. is it still in shade for part of the day ...
jollyrd
Original Author
11 years ago
"still due to the declination of the sun .. is it still in shade for part of the day ..."

My thought is that the main growth is happening in spring and summer - when the sun is high. At that time of the year, the sun passes directly over this tree - from east (left-low corner of picture) to west (upper-center of the picture).

I can only guess the winds are in play here.

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