Best time for remedial work on cherry Trees

[Dean Lofthouse]

I have been asked to work on an avenue of about 50 small cherry trees.

 

I have initially removed some failing branches which had been badly damaged by horses

 

They haven't been touched in years and need crossing and rubbing branches removing and the odd rogue leaders reducing back.

 

I would say about 15 -20% on each tree but want to carry out the work at the optimum time to mimimise the stress on the trees ?

[Big 'Ammer]

Later in the summer to minimise silver leaf disease.

[David Goss]

Late winter methinks Dean

[David Goss]

haha theres a contradiction... i am off to look it up

[David Goss]

ok my bad sorry...

All cherry pruning should be carried out in the growing season.

This reduces the risk of infection by the spores of silver leaf disease which are most

widespread in winter.

Seems i got mixed up with pruning the saplings which is done in late winter/ early spring sorry

[Big 'Ammer]

Winter's good as well.

 

Particularly with the dry conditions we've had this year.

 

Which is going to stress the trees more?

 

I am assuming Dean wants to get on with the job, though.

[Fungus]

Winter's good as well. Particularly with the dry conditions we've had this year. Which is going to stress the trees more?

 

Winter or late summer, always bare in mind, that the production and spreading of spores by newly formed annual brackets of Chondrostereum purpureum mostly takes place from late summer until early winter. And also check for "Astkriecher" of Phellinus tuberculosus at the lower side and/or in the "armpits" of branches.

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[Dean Lofthouse]

Thanks guys

 

The avenue belongs to a hall which is one of my neighbours and is about 200m long and looks absolutely stunning when they bloom.

 

They have been neglected and although they have had horse damage on one side, I think some are showing a little sparseness due to the amount of rubbing branch wounds they have.

 

I have had a good look at all of them and they show now signs of brackets or fungus of any kind