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Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Posted by telboy U.K. (My Page) on
Wed, Apr 4, 07 at 4:47

Hi All,
My small tree has been flowering since last October & is currently in full flood.
I would like to lightly prune after flowering to maintain shape etc..
Any advice would be welcome.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Cherries don't respond well to pruning - the best shape is not to prune at all.

Resin


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RE: Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Sorry, Can't accept that.
I have pruned very lightly in the past 4 years.
The tree is currently beautiful but crossed branches need to be cropped.
I plan to maintain the height which I believe is possible.
Would love to post a pic. but this site is not easy/but the only one that has responded.
Best regards.


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RE: Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Remove the crossed branches completely to reduce the chances of disease which these trees are prone to. It is likely that many of the crossed branches are due to previous pruning. Cherry trees "lightly pruned" sprout out at right angles from the cut branches. Definitely not a tree you should prune back to a particular size and shape each year like a privet hedge.

If the tree is too large for its position, the best solution is to replace it. If you can't find a suitable replacement, you can plan on pruning properly every few years, which means removing tangled branches from the previous prune and cutting back others completely to try and reduce awkward regrowth. Wait until late summer to prune, there are too many fungal pathogens about immediately after flowering. The flowering display will probably be poor the following year as the tree re-establishes suitable flowering branches.

Subhirtella is a particularly poor candidate for pruning since it destroys the natural irregular shape and weeping form. If you don't like irregular and weeping shapes then there are plenty of cherries that grow in regular vase or round crown forms.


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RE: Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Oops, just noticed your subject: 'Autumnalis'. My last paragraph applies to the very common 'Pendula' so ignore that. The rest of it is still correct.


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RE: Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Thankyou for your help.
I now have a plan!!


 
 

 

 


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