Before getting started, it’s best to have a plan. Try to visualize the basic shape and style of how you want your plant to look. Having a goal in mind will help you choose what pruning method and tools to use. Once you have an idea of how you want it to look, it’s time to get ready to prune. Tools Sharp scissors or a pair of hand pruners work great when pruning your
Brush cherry. However, if you keep your
Brush cherry outdoors or allow it to grow freely, you may need a tree pruner to reach higher leaves. How to prune When learning how to prune your
Brush cherry, factors like growth stage, climate, and the current season will give you clues about your plant's pruning needs. Additionally, how you want your plant to look is another thing to consider. If you want to control the size of
Brush cherry, you need to do a strong pruning in winter time, and you can prune to the shape you want. For example, if you want your plant to be short and round, cutting from the top and pruning any leggy parts will be your best bet. If you want a tall, slender appearance, cut from the bottom and sides to limit the spread of growth to encourage vertical growth. If the shape is appropriate and only small-scale shaping is needed (pruning no more than 1/4 of the total size of the plant), it can be done in summer or autumn. To simplify the process, here are a few tips to remember:
- Leave the main stalk in place and trim around it.
- Trim off any dead or unhealthy-looking branches and remove or cut any “suckers”
- Use shears, scissors, or your fingers to cut or pinch just below the bud, branch, or stem.