Photo: Kurt Stüber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Broadleaf tree
Cherry plum: when and how to prune
Prunus cerasifera
Cherry plum: as a hedge or grown freely, prune in June–August.
| Pruning months | June–August |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June–August |
| Flowering | March |
| Native to Belgium | No, naturalised |
Cherry plum: when to prune it?
In summer, after flowering (June–August), in dry weather.
Prune cherries and their relatives in summer, in dry weather. Wounds made in autumn and winter risk silver leaf and bacterial canker.
Cherry plum: how to prune it?
- Trim a hedge in June–August, once flowering is over.
- Prune a tree lightly: just remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
How much to cut, and how often?
- Trim a hedge once or twice a year, after the first flush of growth (late June) and, if needed, in late summer. Check first that no birds are nesting.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in June–August can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- A dense hedge gives birds a place to nest and shelter, and hedgehogs take cover underneath. Leave some leaves at the base.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Pruning in autumn or winter: the wounds then let in silver leaf and gummosis.
- Letting the hedge grow wider at the top than at the bottom: the base then goes bare.
Caution: Don’t prune in autumn or winter: wounds then invite silver leaf, a fungus that can kill branches and even the whole tree.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Similar to: Difference from blackthorn · Difference from plum
Plant profile: Cherry plum · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.