The weeping cherry tree is a prized ornamental species, celebrated for its cascade of spring blossoms and graceful, pendulous form. Pruning is necessary to maintain the tree’s health, enhance its appearance, and prevent it from becoming an overgrown liability. This process is especially important for neglected specimens that require corrective techniques to control their size and restore their natural beauty. The goal is to perform a rejuvenation that brings the tree back to a manageable, healthy structure.
Timing and Essential Equipment
The optimal time for heavy corrective pruning of a weeping cherry tree is during late winter or very early spring, before the buds begin to swell and break dormancy. Pruning during this dormant period minimizes physiological stress on the tree, conserving energy reserves that would otherwise be directed toward new growth. This timing also reduces the risk of attracting insects and spreading certain diseases, which are less active in cooler weather.
Any major cuts should be completed before the tree’s sap begins to flow, which happens just as spring approaches. For a large, overgrown tree, you will need a range of tools to make clean, precise cuts without damaging the bark. Necessary equipment includes bypass hand pruners for small branches, loppers for limbs up to about an inch and a half in diameter, and a sharp pruning saw for larger limbs. All tools must be clean and sharp to ensure smooth cuts that facilitate the tree’s natural healing process.
Understanding the Unique Weeping Habit
Most weeping cherry trees are created through grafting, where a weeping cultivar (the scion) is joined to the rootstock and trunk of a different, non-weeping cherry variety. The point of this union, often visible as a slight swelling on the trunk, determines the height of the tree’s canopy. The structural base consists of the main scaffold branches that radiate outward from the graft union.
From these scaffold branches hang the slender, pendulous weeping branches that form the characteristic curtain of the tree. The tree’s energy is naturally directed toward the fastest-growing points, which are the tips of the weeping branches. Maintaining the integrity of the scaffold branches is paramount, as they determine the overall width and shape of the weeping canopy. Thinning the canopy is necessary to ensure adequate light penetration and air circulation throughout the interior.
A dense, overgrown canopy prevents light and air from reaching the inner branches, which can lead to moisture buildup and increased susceptibility to fungal diseases. The objective of corrective pruning is to maintain the graceful, curtain-like shape while ensuring a healthy, open internal structure. The weeping branches are the primary aesthetic feature and should be preserved whenever possible, while the underlying scaffold branches provide the permanent structure.
Addressing Overgrowth: Rejuvenation Cuts
Rejuvenation of an overgrown weeping cherry begins with the immediate removal of all dead, diseased, or damaged wood, often referred to as the “three Ds.” These branches must be cut back to healthy wood or removed entirely at their point of origin, regardless of the time of year, to prevent the spread of pathogens and pests. Dead wood can be identified by its brittle texture and lack of green color beneath the bark.
The next step involves thinning the interior canopy to alleviate density and overcrowding, a common issue in neglected specimens. Carefully remove inward-growing branches and those that are crossing or rubbing against one another, as this friction creates wounds that are entry points for disease. By removing smaller, weaker branches, you improve the light and airflow that reaches the tree’s core. Aim to remove no more than twenty-five percent of the total canopy in a single year to prevent excessive stress.
For branches larger than one inch in diameter, use the “three-cut method” to prevent the bark from tearing down the trunk as the branch falls.
The Three-Cut Method
- The first cut is an undercut made several inches away from the trunk, extending about a third of the way through the branch to prevent tearing.
- The second cut is an overcut made slightly further out from the undercut to remove the bulk of the branch’s weight.
- The third cut removes the resulting stub right outside the branch collar, the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk, which contains specialized cells for wound closure.
If the overall height of the tree’s scaffold branches is too tall, a controlled reduction cut can lower the canopy’s profile. This is done by pruning a taller, larger branch back to a smaller, healthy side branch growing in the desired direction. This technique shifts the growth energy to the remaining lateral branch, effectively reducing the height without leaving an unhealthy stub. The weeping branches that form the skirt must also be shortened just above an outward-facing bud or a small side branch to ensure the tips hang at least six inches above the ground.
Follow-Up Maintenance and Shaping
After the major rejuvenation work is complete, ongoing annual maintenance is necessary to preserve the tree’s renewed shape and health. This lighter pruning should focus on shaping the weeping canopy to maintain its graceful, flowing form. Regularly inspect the tree for any new branches growing straight upward from the weeping canopy, as these do not contribute to the desired form and should be removed.
A particularly important task is the immediate removal of suckers, which are vigorous shoots that sprout from the rootstock below the graft union. Suckers will compete for water and nutrients and can eventually overtake the grafted weeping canopy, causing the tree to revert to the rootstock’s natural, upright form. Watersprouts, which are fast-growing, vertical shoots that emerge from the main scaffold branches, should also be removed to maintain the open structure.
Following heavy pruning, avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers, as this can stimulate excessive, weak growth that will compound future overgrowth issues. Instead, focus on providing consistent water, especially during dry periods, to support the tree’s recovery. The goal of this follow-up care is to encourage a healthy balance of foliage and flowers while preserving the tree’s uniquely sculpted, weeping appearance.