Preparing for the winter cold is not only in the timely harvesting, but also in preparing the garden and vegetable garden for the coming frosts. In this article we will look at when to prune cherries, how to warm trees in the fall and prepare them for frost, what are the secrets of pruning experienced gardeners.
Why do you need autumn pruning
Autumn cleansing of trees from old or diseased branches is an important process that heals the plant. 
The benefits of such a procedure are great enough:
- formation and correction of the crown of trees;
- rejuvenation by removing old diseased branches;
- elimination and prevention of the appearance of excessive thickening of the cortex;
- potential increase in future yields.
It is noteworthy that there are different trimming methods - the thinning method (when the twigs are cut off at the very base) and the shortening method (the twig is not completely cut). Both methods are used in the cultivation of cherries and other fruit species.
It is believed that cutting the plant weakens it, making it more susceptible to frost. In part, this is true when inexperienced gardeners use the wrong pruning technique.
It is important for gardeners to know how to properly prune fruit trees and shrubs: pear, apple (spring, autumn, old trees), peach, plum, gooseberry, currant, raspberry, grapes (spring and summer).
Optimum time for autumn pruning
The main rule of successful pruning is to cultivate in time, before the first frosts appear. In warm regions of the cold may not occur until the very December - therefore, in this case, sanation is valid until the end of November. In September, frosts may occur in northern latitudes, so wood processing should be carried out as soon as possible.
Set of garden tools for work
Pruning a tree is not a labor-intensive process, but still requires care and some effort. This is a rather delicate process for cherries, so it is better to choose quality tools from proven companies. For the cultivation and removal of branches may be needed such tools:
- Pruner. It is the main accessory tool for the work. It is well suited for thin branches or processes of young wood.
- Garden saw (hacksaw). It is used to remove old branches or processes more than 50 mm thick.
- Lopper It is irreplaceable when working in hard-to-reach and inconvenient places - for example, with a strong interlacing of branches.
Pay attention - all tools should be well sharpened in order to make less effort, to ensure the safety of the gardener and to cause minimum damage to the tree. It is desirable that the tool has a non-slip grip and narrowed sharp ends of the scissors - this will make the tool safe to use.
Also do not forget about the special garden gloves - they can protect your hands in case of a sudden slip.
Check out the variety of sorts of cherries: "Shpanka", "Precious Carmine", "Generous", "Winter Pomegranate", "Ashinskaya", "Wonderful Cherry", "Beacon", "Abundant", "Chernokorka", "Morozovka", "Ural Ruby", "Lyubskaya", "Black Large", "Turgenevka", "Youth", "Chocolate Girl".
Differences in pruning depending on age
For each individual species has its own nuances in the processing and cultivation - and it depends not only on the type of tree. Sanitation of cherry varies in age, degree of fruiting, time of cultivation and type of tree. Let us consider in more detail each of the methods. 
Crop young
The main principle for the cultivation of young trees is the formation of the correct crown. Young trees are rarely susceptible to any diseases, so pruning to destroy diseased or dry twigs, as a rule, does not apply. Also twigs are thinned with the purpose of prevent thickening of the processesthat can damage the tree crown. At this stage, it is worth knowing which branches are the skeleton of the tree, its basis - they cannot be cut off.
When planting a tree, it immediately cultivates twigs, leaving 5-6 of the strongest. Places pruning necessarily cover with a special garden pitch or paint over with oil paint to heal wounds. Best of all, if the left branches are directed in different directions - this ensures the correct formation of a spreading crown. 
Important! We can not allow that when pruning remained branches, rushing a sharp corner from the base of the trunk. This will impede the growth of fruit bearing branches.
Pruning fruit
The difference between cherries and other fruit-bearing trees is that it begins to bear fruit early, which is both a positive and negative point. On the one hand, such productivity is convenient for the gardener, but, on the other hand, the process of exhaustion and aging of the tree accelerates. Therefore, fruit-bearing twigs are also subject to cultivation.
Regular reorganization of the branches does not allow the tree to exhaust itself. Here, the principle of "less is better." On the remaining branches, even if there is a small amount, the harvest will be more intense, the berries will become juicier and tastier.
Did you know? Cherries are ranked as heat-loving plants, and if the wounds resulting from the rehabilitation do not have time to drag on before the onset of frosts, the tree can become ill.
Trimming old
The main task for the cultivation of old trees - eliminate diseased and dried twigsimpeding the development of young shoots. This is a mandatory care, which will help prevent the occurrence of diseases and, as a consequence, the death of cherries. It is believed that the best time to trim an old tree are the spring months, when it is warm enough and the risk of sudden frosts is reduced. Trimming old cherries in the spring will help the tree more easily withstand such stress. If there are branches on the plant that are strongly pulled down and bent, they should also be removed. 
Differences in trimming depending on the shape
The cultivation of the tree depends on the specific type of the cherry. Remediation of tree and bush cherries has fundamental differences.
Pruning Cherry
The scheme of how to properly trim a bushy cherry in the fall is pretty simple - should remember a few rules.
- The cultivation of branches of this type necessarily occurs before the beginning of the place of formation of the kidneys (growth or dormant).
- Cut the branches together with the kidneys can not.
- When the ends of the branches of a bushy tree become thinner and weaker, it is necessary to remove them. The branch is not removed completely, but more often by a third or half of the length.
- Do not forget to fix the place of cutting with a special garden solution.
- Skeletal branches are usually shortened to the lateral branch, which has the potential and desire to grow upwards. If the cherry has a strong interlacing, its thinning is also necessary.
- It is better to leave new shoots - it will favorably affect the development of the future harvest.
Important! If there is a need to remove a large number of branches at once, this cannot be done at once. This procedure is quite painful and stressful for the cherry and can contribute to the occurrence of the disease.
Tree pruning
The fundamental difference between a tree and a handicraft is that in the first case the fruits are located only on annual branches (growths), and in the second case - on annual and bouquet branches. A tree plant requires a more careful approach to cultivation - it is not necessary to prune all the branches in a row. The crown should be shortened gradually, without reducing the length of the branches to less than 2-3 meters. If the tree has slowed its growth, it is necessary to prune the branches that do not reproduce new, fresh shoots. If the cherry, on the contrary, has increased the intensity of growth - do not forget about thinning the twigs.
Rejuvenating cultivation (cutting off all the old branches) of tree cherry can be done only if the annual growth of branches is no more than 15 cm. 
Note: overlapping branches must be reorganized.
Did you know? The shape of the crown of a cherry can be formed and corrected starting from the first year of its growth - the older the tree and the thicker the branch, the more painful the cutting process will be.
Post-trimming activities
The most important thing that needs to be done to help the tree survive the resulting stress and heal wounds is to treat the cutting sites (even the smallest ones) with special garden pitch or oil paint on natural drying oil. You can purchase such devices in a specialized place of sale. If you don’t cover up the bare spots, the cherry, being a stone plant, simply will not survive the winter (even if it is a strong, strong tree).
Tips and secrets from experienced gardeners
Such a process as pruning a cherry can be difficult for beginners. However, it is worth remembering that the cultivation of this plant in the fall will only benefit him and help him endure the winter. 
Experienced gardeners give these tips:
- It is necessary to carry out circumcision only before the start of frosts.
- Remember the difference between cherries and other fruit: the buds of the tree are not located along the entire length, but at the ends - therefore, when they are reorganized, they must either be completely removed or thinned, leaving 2-3 buds on each branch. In this case, the yield will not decrease.
- For a complete rejuvenation of cherries, you will need a saw.
- It is advisable to cut the tree in such a way that all annual shoots are approximately the same length - 30 cm. In this case, the twigs will not bare.
- Do not forget to remove the annual root growth of cherries - such branches significantly reduce yields.
- The most optimal height for cherries will be up to 3 meters high - this should be taken into account when cultivating.
- The pruning process must be annual - the cherry thickens very quickly and slows the growth of fruit-bearing twigs.
- You can not cut all the branches in a row, you should distinguish between annual and bouquet branches.
Until now, opinions differ, whether it is possible to cut the cherry in the fall, or it is worth doing it only in the spring. However, the experience of competent gardeners and the results of research have shown that the process of cultivation in the autumn time helps the tree to prepare for the cold.
It is very important to remember that the purpose of pruning is not a change of the plant beyond recognition, but correction and sanitization, which improves the future harvest and provides prevention from various diseases. Proper observance of the pruning technique will ensure healthy tree care and the emergence of a good harvest in the next season.
