Pruning cherry plum in summer, spring and autumn: how to properly, crown formation scheme

Although cherry plum prefers to grow in southern regions, more and more trees can be found in regions with a cool climate. And in order for the tree to bear fruit abundantly every year, it must be looked after. One of the important procedures is pruning and shaping the cherry plum crown.

Purpose and necessity of forming works

Pruning of cherry plum trees is divided into four types depending on the purpose of its implementation. In any case, the procedure must be carried out regularly so that the tree grows he althy and gives a good harvest. Varieties of cherry plum pruning:

• Forming - aimed at the formation of the crown. It is carried out the least. Formative pruning is carried out in the second year after planting the seedling in open ground.
• Sanitary - mainly held in autumn. During sanitary pruning, all diseased and damaged branches are cut off from a tree.
• Rejuvenating - carried out on old trees, if the yield has begun to decline. Promotes the emergence of new shoots on the tree.
• Thinning - cut off part of the shoots if the crown has become too thick and the fruits do not have enough sunlight because of it.

Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to learn how to properly trim the cherry plum, depending on the purpose of the procedure.

The advantages of the procedure are:

• increase fruiting and improve fruit quality;
• opportunity to regulate yield by pruning fruit buds;
• correct pruning allows for even growth of branches;
• promotes the appearance of fruits on the skeletal branches.

Another advantage of the procedure is the removal of diseased and underdeveloped branches.

What you need for the procedure

To properly cut the cherry plum, you must prepare all the tools for the work in advance.

Required set of tools:

• secateurs;
• pruning shears;
• garden saw;
• gloves;
• loppers;
• garden saw.

All tools with which it is planned to cut cherry plum branches must be sharpened in advance. For cutting, only sharply ground tools are used that do not leave creases on the branches.

Recommended timing for pruning

Pruning terms are determined depending on the type of work. Basically, the main procedures for removing cherry plum branches are carried out in spring and autumn. In the summer, only rejuvenating work is brought.

Spring

The most favorable period for crown pruning is early spring, when cherry plum has not yet begun to sap. Formative pruning is carried out before bud break in March-April. If necessary, pinching is also carried out in the spring, in the second half of April - the first days of May. During this period, cherry plum quickly recovers, and pruning does not affect further fruiting. All tree pruning activities must be completed by the end of spring.

Summer

Pruning cherry plum in the summer should be if a rejuvenating procedure is planned.Work is carried out in June-July. It is not necessary to rejuvenate trees every summer. Summer pruning of cherry plum is recommended to be carried out as rarely as possible, since during this period the sap flow is active, and after the procedure, the trees recover for a long time.

In addition, the cherry plum can flow around the gum, which contributes to the development of fungal diseases.

Autumn

Pruning cherry plum in the fall is necessary in case of a sanitary procedure. The terms of this type of work fall on the second half of October - the beginning of November. This type of work must be completed before the onset of cold weather. It is not recommended to touch trees in winter.

Types of tree pruning

There are only a few types of scraps:

• formative;
• sanitary;
• thinning;
• rejuvenating.

In most cases, all types of cherry plum pruning are carried out immediately on the same day. Unless the sanitary service is left for the fall or before the onset of cold weather, it is repeated if necessary.

Cutting rules

Work on the removal of branches from the cherry plum must be carried out in accordance with all the rules. All four varieties of the procedure differ in small nuances, but in general the technique is similar.

Shortening branches and shoots of cherry plum

Branches are shortened if the crown has become too dense, and the branches have become too long. Branches are shortened after planting seedlings in a permanent place. Also, the procedure is carried out in adult trees, when the growths have stopped growing. Cherry plums cannot be cut off the top more than one meter. If you cut off the top more, it will begin to grow meter-long side shoots.

Thinning cherry plum branches

Scheme for pruning cherry plum in the summer is useful if thinning of the branches of the cherry plum is carried out. Thinning is necessary for mature trees with a well-developed crown. The procedure is performed on plants over three years old.

How to properly thin:

• If two stems grow in the same plane, then one is cut off.
• If a crooked stem grows that interferes with everyone else, it is also removed.

Also cut down all weak and underdeveloped branches that do not bear fruit, but the tree spends nutrients on them.

Rules for cutting stem branches

How to properly cut stem branches from cherry plum:

• During cutting, it is not recommended to leave stumps, soot fungus may appear on them, which will later spread to the entire tree.
• Large diameter sections must be lubricated with garden pitch. Small ones can grow on their own.
• During the thinning process, cherry plums cut branches growing inside the crown.

It is also recommended to remove all diseased, deformed and crooked branches.

The nuances of the formation of individual varieties

The pattern of crown formation depends on the variety of cherry plum. Trees are arboreal, bushy, hybrid and columnar. Before proceeding with pruning, it is important to study the features of working on each type.

Tree-like

Most of the crop grows on 7-9 year old shoots. Therefore, it is recommended to cut branches only inside the crown. In this case, dry, damaged and downward-growing branches are cut down. Then specimens with strongly branched and slightly branched shoots should be shortened.In the event that the annual growth is less than 50 cm, then the cherry plum is not shortened.

With a significant decrease in the growth of branches, shortening is carried out on 2-3-year-old wood. And if it completely stopped, then at 5-6 years old.

When reaching the age of 25, rejuvenating pruning of cherry plum is carried out. Such a procedure is carried out on old trees in lean years, since a few more years after it, cherry plum will be restored.

Bushy

On bush varieties, fruits appear on annual shoots. As a rule, such varieties do not require pruning for the first 3-4 years after planting a seedling. If you do not cut the plant, then fruiting passes to the branches growing on the periphery. In the event that the procedure was not carried out for too long and the tree is completely overgrown, then the formation of the crown takes place in stages over 2-3 years.First thin out the crown, remove dry and damaged branches. Then the following year, some of the shoots are shortened.

Hybrid

Hybrid varieties are characterized by the fact that they give abundant growth in a year. Up to about 1 m per fruiting season, therefore, such varieties will have to be cut most often, almost annually. Every spring, the crown is thinned out, leaving a few skeletal branches. Cut down deformed, weak branches with the least number of shoots. Thinning allows sunlight to reach those branches that are constantly bearing fruit.

If you do not thin out the crown, the yield gradually decreases, the fruits become smaller and become sour in taste. As soon as the yield begins to decline, and the fruit tastes sour, the branches are thinned. It is carried out, as a rule, on 2-3-year-old wood. If the annual growth is not fast, then for 5-6 years.

Columnar

The purpose of pruning on columnar varieties is to remove some of the shoots on the main conductor. Such a measure will help reduce the growth of the annual growth of branches and improve the quality of the cherry plum yield. It is important to properly cut off unnecessary branches. For the procedure, only well-ground secateurs are used. This rule applies to pruning on all types of trees. If you use a blunt sector, there will be creases in the sections, and this can lead to the spread of diseases.

Tree care after pruning

After cutting, you need to pay attention to care:

• During summer pruning, trees are abundantly watered with warm water, and so that the soil does not dry out, the soil around the trunk is mulched with peat or sawdust.
• Pruning is recommended on a cool overcast day. In the rain and a few days after it, cutting branches is undesirable. The crown must dry before the procedure.
• Immediately after the procedure, the cut sites are treated with garden pitch, which helps prevent the occurrence of fungal and viral diseases. The thickness of the garden pitch should not be less than 5 mm. It is not recommended to use fresh manure, paint or lime for processing.
• It is not recommended to cut more than 1/3 of all branches at once. This will negatively affect the he alth of the cherry plum.

After the procedure, mineral and organic top dressing will help the plant recover faster. The type of top dressing is selected depending on the growing season. In the fall, use organic. In spring, nitrogenous fertilizers are applied to the soil, and in summer phosphorus and potash fertilizers.

Recommended