How do you prune cherry trees in autumn? Four key measures to master
Cherries are a very common fruit in China. Although the market price of cherries is high, due to their taste and nutritional value, the market demand in China is still very large. So cherry tree planting is also quite common, and when planting cherry trees, we need to do a good job of pruning. Especially in autumn, how should cherry trees be pruned in autumn? Below, let's take a look with the editor at the four key measures for autumn pruning of cherry trees!
1. Thinning branches
When pruning cherry trees in autumn, the first measure to carry out is thinning branches. Thinning branches is mainly to cut off branches with no useful value in the cherry tree canopy, such as root suckers, old dead branches, water sprouts, competing branches, and overlapping and crossing branches. In addition, note that branch tips, branch groups, and strong vigorous branches of the current year on the tree should all be thinned out in time. This improves the permeability inside the cherry tree canopy, ensures that branches in the inner canopy can receive light evenly, and promotes the growth of flower buds. Generally, about two large branches are thinned out per cherry tree each year, but note that opposing wounds should not be allowed to form.
2. Branch bending
Branch bending is also something that needs to be done well when pruning cherry trees in autumn. Moreover, the best season for branch bending is also autumn; if branch bending is done in autumn, its effect is clearly better than in spring. Around August each year is the best season for autumn branch bending, and doing branch bending at this time can ensure that all buds develop normally and reduce upright branches on the back. We should control the branch bending angle according to the form of the cherry tree branches. Generally, the base angle of the main branches should be kept at about 80 degrees, and the tip angle at about 70 degrees. If they are auxiliary nurturing branches, then the angle should be kept at about 85 degrees. When bending branches, be careful to move away the bending ropes or weights to avoid the tip angle growing inward.
3. Retraction pruning
When handling cherry tree branches in autumn, we should first carry out retraction pruning on the temporary branches that were pruned in spring and summer and have been left unpruned for about two years. At the same time, we should also note that water sprouts that were pinched in summer, large-leaf branches, and various large branch groups and auxiliary nurturing branches that have grown for many years should be retracted and pruned. This suppresses the growth of upper branches, promotes the development of rear branches, concentrates nutrients on fruiting branches, and prompts the rapid formation of flower buds. At the same time, if the growth vigor of a branch group is relatively weak, then about 3 branches should be retained for retraction and rejuvenation.
4. Pinching
In addition to the above three pruning measures, when pruning cherry trees in autumn, we also need to do a good job of pinching. Normally, this is generally carried out in mid-to-late September, and throughout autumn basically only this one pinching is needed. It is mainly to reset the branches, enhance the cold resistance of the cherry tree, and ensure that the cherry tree can overwinter safely.
The above is a brief introduction to the four key measures for autumn pruning of cherry trees. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!