Photo: Tsunoi, Kōkichi, active 1892-1921., Public domain · source
Pruning guide · Tree
Yoshino cherry: when and how to prune
Prunus × yedoensis
Yoshino cherry is best pruned in July–August.
| Pruning months | July–August |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in July–August |
| Flowering | March–April |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Yoshino cherry: when to prune it?
Only in summer, in July–August, in dry weather. The wounds then close quickly and the risk of disease is lowest.
Yoshino cherry: how to prune it?
- A Yoshino cherry needs little pruning: remove only dead, diseased and crossing branches.
- On young trees, take out branches that are too low or grow too steeply upwards, to create a good open crown.
- Always cut just outside the branch collar, without leaving stubs.
- Remove wild shoots from below the graft and at the base of the trunk as soon as you see them.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: July–August.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in July–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.
- Yoshino cherry flowers in March–April, when it attracts bees.
- 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.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Never prune in autumn or winter: silver leaf and bacterial canker can enter through the wounds. Cherries heal large cuts poorly, so prune little and more often rather than a lot at once.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Yoshino cherry · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.