By Smorgie
Hertfordshire,
United Kingdom 
My Cherry tree only blossoms around the last forks in the branches, is this normal? It's a reasonable sized tree and was here when I moved in 3-4years ago. The first year I took out a lot of the upper branches and congestion. However this tree puts on 2-3 ft per year. In the second year I took out most of the vertical growth at the top, and did a similar thing last year (but only the longest of the growth. It has had a few cherries which were pink in colour but the pigeons had most of these. I see other cherry trees around which are overloaded with blossom. I believe that after flowering is the time to prune so what to do this year? Also, can anyone put a name to it?
29 Apr, 2012
Answers
My mother would agree with you about taking it out but half a day each year is a bit easier than the days it would take to remove it and all the planting around the base. So removal has been considered. It does make a good host for a climber though and how big can it get? ( Will google bird cherry though, thanks.)
29 Apr, 2012
Far to big for the average size garden! Cur it down this autumn as near the ground as possible you don;t need to remove the stump and roots. You can treat with SBK if you wish. Removing will take less than half a day!
29 Apr, 2012
Prunus avium...I think you could be right there. ( I assume you didn't mean Prunus Padus?)
29 Apr, 2012
But have you seen what is in the right of the first picture? I think that would be going first.
29 Apr, 2012
Ye Prunus avium... I can't really tell what is to the right in the photo.
30 Apr, 2012
From pic 1, it looks like the tree was originally espaliered into a cordon. I would be tempted to prune it back into shape then you have a productive, attractive tree that fits your garden. I reckon that you could prune it into a decent shape within 3 years.
If it is a wild cherry then you can eat them - makes a great ice cream!
30 Apr, 2012
Sorry, just to the right is an even taller eucalyptus tree, it branches in two, the weaker side is the one you can see the other side which is leaning is a but stronger.....I can guess the recommendations for this specimen!
You know what I bet it was trained in the first years of it's life as the lower quarter is the right shape but that was along time ago. The cordon could have run parallel to the old washing line. There are also some other plants in the garden that look like they were put in by someone with an interest in garden but I would say they are all over 15 years old. I can't see me getting it back into a decent shape, but it isn't going. I'm happy to keep taking out the vertical growth and every few years getting a bit mean with it. Just out of interest what shape did you have in mind?
30 Apr, 2012
You can get this shape out of it quite easily:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GxZPuIKd8fg/TbgKm6Vv-YI/AAAAAAAABEI/IGtnl0bSwxE/s1600/20090908-espalier-1.jpg
30 Apr, 2012
I wouldn't take it out either, but there isn't room for that and the eucalyptus - decision time.
30 Apr, 2012
blossom grows on last years growth so that could well be your problem . i have a cherry tree im making into a climber and training it . i get lots of blossom on the very outside but because im trimming it regulerly i barley ever get fruit . i also cut a large cherry tree right back and the next year it had know fliowers but came back with a vengiance the next year infact its far bigger than when i cut it and has loads of blossom/fruit .
1 May, 2012
Thanks for all the answers.
1 May, 2012
your welcome
2 May, 2012
It really depends on which cherry tree you have, this looks as if it 'might' be a 'bird cherry' and they are not a mass of blossom in spring. I'd consider replacing with something that isn't so vigourous.
29 Apr, 2012