Apple and cherry trees are the bookends of the fruit world, one producing fruit early in spring, the other late in autumn. Both types of fruit trees require severe early pruning, called training, to form a strong scaffold of branches that will bear fruit. While various training systems exist, many horticulturists recommend the open-center system for both cherry and apple trees. This pruning system removes branches from the tree's center to allow sunshine to reach all inner branches.
Apply denatured alcohol to a clean rag. Swipe across the clipper blades before using and between cuts to prevent spreading disease.
Top the new tree just after planting. Cut it off at between 24 and 36 inches above the ground. Cut all branches to 3 inches.
Tie ribbons around three or four lateral shoots that will become the main structural, or scaffold, branches of the tree. Do this at the end of April during the fruit tree's first growing season. Choose shoots that are evenly spaced around the tree trunk at least 18 inches above the ground. Look for those with wide angles of attachment to the trunk. Cut back all other shoots to 4 to 6 inches long.
Head back the scaffold branches to 24 inches in June to encourage side branching. Prune back all other branches to 4 to 6 inches long. They provide shade for the tree until its canopy is established.
Remove all shoots growing on the scaffold branches the following summer except three or four strong lateral branches on each. Select evenly spaced branches with wide crotch angles.
Prune mature trees to keep the open-center shape. Remove any shoots or branches growing in or toward the center of the tree. Trim branches to maintain the desired tree size and to eliminate branch crowding.
Things You Will Need
- Garden clippers
- Clean rag
- Denatured alcohol
- Cherry tree branches may not grow at the ideal 45-degree angle from the tree trunk. To widen the angle, insert pieces of wood between branch and trunk to force the branch crotch to widen.
- Another system recommended for apple tree is the central leader pruning system. However, this has its risks. The central leader system leaves only one main upright trunk in the fruit tree. If this trunk is infected or diseased with fire blight, the entire tree is lost. With the open-center system, one diseased trunk may be removed and the tree can continue to produce.
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