{"id":2663,"date":"2020-03-12T00:03:11","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T07:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-458\/"},"modified":"2024-04-17T11:41:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T18:41:27","slug":"pruning-ornamental-cherries","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pruning-ornamental-cherries\/","title":{"rendered":"Pruning ornamental cherries"},"content":{"rendered":"

I live in Seattle. My condo board is having a debate about<\/strong>
\nwhether pruning an ornamental cherry after May will kill it or<\/strong>
\nnot. Can you help? Also, when should it be pruned?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

According to Cass Turnbull of the local organization, Plant Amnesty, the
\nmain reason pruning ornamental cherries is problematic is that the branch
\nsystem of these trees is complex, and it is hard to tell (if you are not
\nan experienced gardener or a professional arborist) what to prune. In her
\nGuide to Pruning<\/em> (Sasquatch, 2006), Turnbull says that ornamental
\ncherries are prone to dieback if their branches are shortened. Besides
\nthe dieback issue, improper pruning can give rise to watersprouts (the
\nbranches grow straight up). I consulted two other pruning guides, both of
\nwhich advised against any pruning of ornamental cherries.<\/p>\n

Do you know why the board wants to prune these trees? If the trees are
\ntoo large for the site, it might make more sense to remove them and plant
\nsomething appropriate which will not require risky pruning. You may find
\nthis discussion forum<\/a> from University of British Columbia Botanical Garden helpful.<\/p>\n

Excerpt:<\/p>\n

“These generally disease susceptible trees resent severe heading back.
\nTrying to force it to become a perfectly symmetrical shape will also
\ndestroy its natural character; much of the appeal of aged Japanese
\ncherries (and related trees) is the contrast between the prettiness of
\nthe flowers and the rugged appearance of the trunk and branches.”<\/p>\n

My summary is that, while pruning the trees may not kill them outright,
\nit could make them aesthetically unappealing and more susceptible to
\ndisease, so it would be best to let them be.<\/p>\n

Flowering cherries<\/a>, <\/span>Pruning trees<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I live in Seattle. My condo board is having a debate about whether pruning an ornamental cherry after May will kill it or not. Can you help? Also, when should it be pruned?   According to Cass Turnbull of the local organization, Plant Amnesty, the main reason pruning ornamental cherries is problematic is that the branch system of these trees is complex, and it is hard to tell (if you are not an experienced gardener or a professional arborist) what…<\/p>\n

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