If you’ve ever admired the soft pink or white clouds of a cherry blossom tree in spring, you’ll know how much impact these ornamental trees bring to a garden. But as with all flowering cherry trees, timing and technique matter when it comes to pruning. Done well, it supports healthy growth, enhances flower production, and keeps the tree safe and attractive. Done poorly or at the wrong time, it can lead to disease, poor blossom, or even permanent damage.
So, when to prune flowering cherry tree varieties in the UK? This guide takes you through the best seasons, correct techniques, helpful tips, and why involving a professional tree care team like Woodfelder Tree Care makes all the difference.
Key Takeaways
- Ornamental cherry trees are grown for their blooms, while sweet cherry trees are grown for edible fruit production.
- Pruning flowering cherry trees improves tree health, improves flower production and keeps the tree safe and in control.
- The best time of year to prune is summer, just after flowering; avoid pruning in autumn and winter.
- Younger trees require more pruning, while mature trees need less to avoid stress.
- Cherry trees are difficult to train or espalier, but it can be done with lots of maintenance.
- Common pruning mistakes include: cutting in winter or damp weather, overpruning and leaving ragged cuts
Understanding Flowering Cherry Trees
Flowering cherry trees are part of the Prunus family, a group of deciduous trees and shrubs known for their spring blooms and, in some cases, fruit. Unlike sweet cherries or acid cherry trees grown for delicious cherries, ornamental cherries are mainly planted for their beauty. They range from compact, young tree varieties perfect for small gardens to large trees that dominate the landscape’s canopy.
With their striking blossom and elegant shape, they’re popular in both traditional garden design and modern urban planting schemes. However, like all ornamental trees, they require ongoing care to prevent issues such as disease, weak branches, or uncontrolled growth.
Why Pruning Matters for Cherry Trees
Pruning isn’t just about appearances; it’s a vital part of caring for your trees. When it comes to flowering cherries, giving them regular attention can really pay off with many benefits.
- Tree Health: Removing diseased branches, deadwood, or crossing shoots and branches prevents problems from spreading.
- Flower Production: Correct pruning cuts allow more light and air into the canopy, encouraging better blooms each spring.
- Shape and Size Control: Overgrown cherries can dominate a garden or cast too much shade, which can be detrimental to other plants. Managed shaping keeps them in proportion with other plants, hedges, or conifers.
- Safety: Weak or broken branches can fall and cause damage. A structured pruning programme prevents hazards.
The Best Time to Prune Flowering Cherry Trees
Timing is everything. Pruning trees at the wrong season risks introducing fungal spores, such as silver leaf, which thrive in damp, cool weather.
- Summer Pruning: The recommended time for most flowering cherries is summer, just after flowering and when the leaves are fully developed. This reduces the risk of fungal infection and allows wounds to heal quickly. Try to prune when the weather is dry for the following few days.
- Avoid Autumn & Winter Pruning: Autumn pruning stimulates fresh growth that is vulnerable to frost and unlikely to mature before March or early spring.. Unlike some fruit trees (like apples and pears), cherry trees should not be cut back during winter pruning. Cold, wet conditions increase the risk of disease and slow healing.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Pruning Cherry Trees
Pruning cherry trees is a straightforward process. Here’s our basic step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Assess the Tree
Start with a careful inspection of the canopy, branches, and base. Look for diseased wood, weak, small branches, or crossing growth.
Step 2: Prepare the Right Tools
Pruning shears, secateurs, and sharp saws are essential. Always ensure cuts are made with sterilised pruning tools to reduce the risk of infection.
Step 3: Remove Dead or Diseased Branches
Cut back to the branch collar (a branch collar is the swollen area where a branch joins the trunk or limb, acting as a protective barrier) to promote healing. Dispose of debris away from other plants to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
Step 4: Thin the Canopy
Selective removal of branches allows better air circulation and sunlight, supporting healthier flowering and reducing disease.
Step 5: Shape for Balance
Work with the tree’s natural form. Step back often to assess the tree and ensure you are satisfied with the shaping process. Shorten overlong lateral branches but avoid excessive removal. Annual pruning with gentle adjustments is better than harsh cuts. If you are pruning in hot, dry weather, make sure to give your plant a healthy drink afterwards.
Other Pruning Information for Cherry Blossom Trees
Pruning Young Cherry Trees
For young cherry trees, the focus is on formative care. The aim is to establish a strong structure of main branches to support future growth and blossom. Correct shaping early reduces the need for heavy renovation pruning later in life.
Pruning Mature Trees
Mature trees need lighter, maintenance-focused pruning. Regular inspections help spot diseased branches or storm damage early. Removing too much live wood at once can stress older trees, so a staged approach is recommended.
Espalier Training
Ornamental cherry trees can be espaliered, although they may be a bit more challenging to work with compared to apple or pear trees due to their tougher wood and vigorous growth. While espalier isn’t as common for ornamental cherries, they can thrive in a fan-trained shape, with branches spreading out from a central stem. You can achieve these shapes with a juvenile tree by gently tying the branches to a support and pruning regularly, which helps keep the shape and boosts beautiful blooms.
Common Mistakes in Pruning Cherry Trees
One of the most common mistakes with flowering cherry trees is pruning in the wrong season. Making cuts in cold, wet conditions increases the risk of diseases like bacterial canker. This can cause dieback in branches and, in severe cases, compromise the whole tree. That’s why summer pruning is recommended, when wounds can heal faster and conditions are less hospitable to fungal spores.
Over-pruning is another common mistake. Heavy-handed cutting reduces the tree’s ability to photosynthesise, putting it under stress. Over-pruned cherries often produce fewer blooms in spring and may become more vulnerable to disease. Gentle, annual pruning is far better than infrequent, drastic cuts.
Another error is making rough or uneven cuts or cutting too close to the trunk. Without neat, clean cuts made just outside the branch collar, wounds struggle to heal properly. This not only looks untidy but also increases the risk of infection. Using sharp, well-maintained pruning tools helps ensure cuts are made close to the tree’s natural growth, protecting its long-term health.
Finally, pruning creates waste material, and leaving debris under the tree can attract pests or harbour fungal spores that re-infect the plant. It’s essential to remove all cuttings promptly, particularly any diseased branches. A tidy site isn’t just about appearances; it’s part of protecting the overall health of your tree and garden.
Professional Care vs DIY Pruning
While light trimming of small branches might be manageable, the reality is that pruning mature trees or handling large branches requires the skill of a qualified tree surgeon. Attempting DIY on a flowering cherry tree risks poor cuts, spreading disease, and even personal injury. That’s why bringing in professionals makes all the difference.
At Woodfelder Tree Care, our experienced tree surgeons provide:
- Precision pruning cuts that protect long-term tree health and encourage strong flowering.
- Safe working practices, with full PPE and site-specific safety procedures in line with HSE guidance.
- Specialist equipment to manage access challenges, from tight urban gardens to roadside trees.
- Efficient waste removal, leaving no debris behind and ensuring your garden or site looks tidy.
- Tailored care, whether it’s gentle maintenance for ornamental trees or complete tree removal where safety is a concern.
You should call in a professional if your cherry tree is:
- Overgrown or in need of reshaping.
- Growing close to property, roads, or hedges.
- Showing signs of disease, storm damage, or dieback.
- A large tree that requires climbing or specialist access.
With Woodfelder, you don’t just get pruning, you get a complete tree care service, including stump grinding, hedge trimming, tree surveys, and emergency support where needed. Our focus is always on safety, professionalism, and results that last. Learn about all our domestic tree services here.
Final Thoughts on Pruning Flowering Cherry Trees
Pruning your flowering cherry trees isn’t just about making them look beautiful; it’s also the best way to keep them healthy, help them blossom even better, and enjoy their beauty for many years to come. When you choose the right time, make the proper cuts, and even consider expert advice, you’re giving your trees the best care possible.
If you’re unsure when to prune flowering cherry tree specimens in your garden or want reassurance that the job will be done correctly, call in the professional tree surgeons at Woodfelder Tree Care. We’ll provide tailored advice, safe pruning, and ongoing support to keep your cherries at their best.
Ready to bring out the best in your cherry blossom tree? Contact Woodfelder Tree Care today for a free, no-obligation quotation.