How should I prune my new low chill cherries?

Richard,

I'm a sporatically devoted hobbiest so I want to learn everything I can. I used to think that I knew more than I did. Now I realize that I'm barely scratching the surface (A bit like I was after a year as an electrician).

I gritted my teeth and cut one of my cherries off at about three feet. It is sort of "feathered" with two whips that are great -- and one that is too low and of a bad crotch angle. My book from the American Horticultural Society recommends that if there are fewer than three usable whips, you should prune them off...

I guess that they want all of the main branches to be approximately the same size? Maybe I need to read it again..

Should I leave buds that are close to the "head cut"?

Rich,

As I wrote here:
www.frostconcepts.com/horticulture/PTP_2...d_Summer_Pruning.pdf

... after a tree has been headed off, anything 16" and higher above the ground should be be allowed to grow. You'll be able to make a much better decision about what to keep next winter.

As for the one bad branch you describe, if its at such a bad angle (approaching horizontal or worse) that you know it will never be a candidate, then go ahead and cut it off -- leaving NO stub behind.

Your posting "My ramblings about pruning" was very interesting, and I'm jealous of the courses you were able to take at Cal Poly and Davis. I think it points out that there are differences of opinions and there is more than one single method to pruning to acheive optimum performance from a particular variety of fruit. A novice usually will get into trouble though when they mix (use portions of) one approach with another. They are very happy with a "reduced labor" approach that may be sub-optimal but still provides big returns of fruit.

My Lapins cherry is covered in blossums. Would you recommend that I pinch those blossums off this year?

Let them set, it will be good for both the plant and you! When they are about 1/3 size, then thin to about 4 inch intervals between clusters this year. In future years, let the tree thin itself and if necessary, afterwards thin to 2 inch spacing between clusters. Cherries are much less of a drain on plant resources than larger fruit.

Congratulations on the bloom!

I am so jealous that you have blooms. My new trees (planted just this year) have indeed leafed out but no blooms yet.

No blooms on mine either - I'm jealous and happy for you all at the same time. We'll just have to live vicariously through RichP this year! Please keep us informed of the progress!