Pruning Trees: Walnut, Plum, Cherry,

[Fred]

We have inherited some nice large old trees and would like to give them a good tidy up, I know now isn't the time to do it but is it best Autumn Winter or Spring.

They all have an abundance of fruit/nuts and some will have to come down as they have rotted, but they haven't been looked after for a long time and have become a bit gangly (I wonder if that's a real word) anyway what I mean is there are loads of long branches going all over the place.

It would like to keep the Walnut a couple of Cherry and a couple of Plum, so what do I do and when to give them a new lease of life and make them look better ?

Also does anyone know how and when to move trees ? I have a few I would like to dig up and take with us, they are not huge and about 5 years old.

Thank you.

[Clubby]

Hi Fred
If you are looking to prune walnut,plum or cherry trees then now is the perfect time to do this.
Although most trees are best pruned when dormant (ie during autumn/winter), those you have mentioned are among the exceptions.
Cherry will bleed sap heavily if pruned in early spring. Also cherry and plum will be left open to disease,namely silver leaf spores,which are not present in the summer months.
So i suggest cracking on with the pruning tout de suite!
Start by removing any dead or diseased branches,and any rubbing against other branches as this can open up wounds in the wood and allow infection.Nice clean cuts only please,so appropriate pruning saw is essential, and clean saw between trees to avoid any cross contamination. And be sure to avoid bark tears as the branches fall,as this will also lead to infection,or at least a longer healing process.
Once dead branches etc are safely removed,remove branches crossing centre of tree or growing inwards to create a clear centre to allow air flow through canopy.
Then, time to step back and see whats left before the cosmetic process of creating a nice shape can begin.
You can be quite harsh with pruning cherry and plum. They will both put on masses of new growth in response to a good trim. Only problem with this is some of the new growth will need to be pruned away over next couple of years to allow light to penetrate canopy creating happy and healthy trees.
Make sure all cuts are flush to branches/trunk just outside the branch bark collar (google this to see more info). This will give cuts best chance of rapid healing.
Alternatively, employ a professional tree surgeon. My number is ***************!
Happy pruning.

[Brian]

What useful info. I had no idea that some trees benefitted from Summer pruning. Although not the original poster, many thanks for the benefit of your wisdom.

[Admiral]

Thanks for that Clubby. Very useful information. I too didn't realise some trees benefitted from summer pruning.

I've always wondered why I've seen the old boys "round these parts" starting to prune chery trees almost as soon as they've got the harvest off them.

Now. About the really old pear trees in our garden. They don't seem to care what I do to them but keep coming back year on year. Producing hard inedible pears.

But I suppose that's another subject.

[Fred]

Wow thank you Clubby, looks like it will have to wait till next year now as I don't have time for the garden at the moment.

But thanks a lot for your info, and if you do happen to pass by in the next few weeks please feel free to give them a trim up.