jessicaguelke
Newly Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:11 pm
Location: Zone 6 Clinton CT

Prune or not to prune?

I have a snow fountains weeping cherry that I would like to keep on the small side. Can I prune it? And if so, how should I? I live in Zone 6- CT. I also live on a saltwater marsh.

bullthistle
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1152
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:26 am
Location: North Carolina

The best way to keep a plant small is to root prune the roots because as the roots grow so goes the top. Pruning the top will not help all that much but you can prune out the braches that cross other branches. To root prune use a spade and shove it down as far as you can all around the plant. You have a clue when you planted it how large the ball was then do it around the ball. Like bonsai.

JONA878
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1014
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:14 am
Location: SUSSEX

Hi Jessica.
One thing to make sure of if you do try root pruning is that there is no sign of bacterial canker in your garden on any cherry or plum cultivars.
As its a soil born problem the roots are very vunerable to infection, and therefore damaged roots more so.

It's a devil if a tree gets infected and a sure death sentance.

Jona.



Return to “Trees, Shrubs, and Hedges”