Cherries bear fruit on long-lived spurs that are productive for 10 to 12 years. Pruning consists mainly of thinning out interfering branches, removing dead and diseased branches, and thinning out new shoots lightly each year. If it is necessary to keep the tree to a smaller size, occasionally head back to strong growing side branches. Once fully established, mature cherries will require very little annual pruning. Most major pruning is done during the dormant season. Pruning in summer will have a greater dwarfing effect on the tree.
Proper pruning can help prevent diseases such as powdery mildew and bacterial canker. Do not overprune as this may lead to sunburn, which may make trees susceptible to borers.
