Yoshino Cherry tree experience

[Maiden69]

Hi guys, I have a Yoshino tree that I planted in a rootpouch winter of 2021. Its grown decently, trunk is a little over 1.5" and I was planning on doing the first chop this winter. When is the best time? And, can it be done after post-flush-harden? I would love to see it flower, but if I chop it at the end of winter I won't. Either way, I rather do what's best for the tree development. I will try to post pictures later on tonight when I get home. Its hard to take decent pictures as I planted a few trees to close to each other because of my limited space.

 

[Maiden69]

Little bump... any takers??? Or just move it to a bigger bag and work on the roots in spring for another year? roots definitely broke through the bottom and it is nicely anchored into the mulch bed.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I’d wait to chop until May or June, middle of the growing season. Any yoshinos I’ve had would rot at the chops before they could callus over, so you want them healing up quick. They will fatten up quickly in the ground, so maybe they'd heal faster in the ground too.

 

[Colorado]

I have zero experience with cherry, but for pretty much all deciduous in my garden post-flush-hardening is a good time for a hard chop.

I’d work the roots if it went in there winter 2021 (assuming this means 2 growing seasons ago).

 

[JudyB]

Once you do the chop (I agree with BVF on the timing) watch the chop site carefully for borers and other chewers, as they are especially attracted to cherry wounds.

 

[Maiden69]

I have zero experience with cherry, but for pretty much all deciduous in my garden post-flush-hardening is a good time for a hard chop.

I’d work the roots if it went in there winter 2021 (assuming this means 2 growing seasons ago).

Yes, it went into the bag in June 2021, slip pot from a colander. This is a bare-root tree I bought Jan 2021.

I’d wait to chop until May or June, middle of the growing season. Any yoshinos I’ve had would rot at the chops before they could callus over, so you want them healing up quick. They will fatten up quickly in the ground, so maybe they'd heal faster in the ground too.

Brian, if I work the roots, then I can't chop it this season right? I will have to wait till next year right?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Yes, it went into the bag in June 2021, slip pot from a colander. This is a bare-root tree I bought Jan 2021.


Brian, if I work the roots, then I can't chop it this season right? I will have to wait till next year right?

If It’s growing strong and is well-anchored in the pot, I’d probably still chop in the same year as a repot. Cherry is a strong grower.

 

[Maiden69]

If It’s growing strong and is well-anchored in the pot, I’d probably still chop in the same year as a repot. Cherry is a strong grower.

Thanks!

 

[Maiden69]

I decided to give the tree one more year, it leafed out and I didn't want to risk it. It is huge right now, I bet there are probably a lot of escape roots this year. Going to have to probably re-bag and chop the tree at the same time if I can't figure out a way to anchor it properly.

 

[Maiden69]

@Brian Van Fleet on your cherry trees, do you wait for the buds to start showing some green before repotting? This one is beginning to swell and I don't want to miss the window this year.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

You can wait a little longer, maybe another week or so? You're probably ok as long as the leaves are just opening and 1/4-1/2”.

 

[Maiden69]

You can wait a little longer, maybe another week or so? You're probably ok as long as the leaves are just opening and 1/4-1/2”.

Great, thanks, will do.

 

[Maiden69]

Finally got to this one... word of advise, when working on species that produce a lot of roots, limit time in the bag to 1-2 years max. This thing was a bear to cut through the root ball and that was with my sawsall and a Diablo 12" carbide teeth blade.

I used the same size bag as last time, trying to go with as much root production as close to the trunk as possible. I added a 1" layer at the bottom and topped up till most of the large flare was covered. Next year depending on growth I will move into the next size bag with more root reduction.















Marks on the truck were from 2 thick roots that circled in front of it fusing in. Not sure if I should leave it as is, or clean up the edges and cover with cutpaste or callous mate.

 

[Maiden69]

So far it looks as if it going to be fine. Leafing out and pushing new bugs on the trunk as well.