What to do about a weeping cherry tree that doesn't want to weep

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by uggabugga

this tree was planted about 18 months ago. i've already cut one branch that was vigorously growing upward, and tied down a second one - which is still trying to grow upward.

but still the fastest growing branches want to reach for the sky. any ideas?

should i tie weights to the ends? cutting them off entirely doesn't seem like a good option.

That's a really nice healthy looking little weeping cherry tree. It's fine.

Diana is correct. Do NOT put any weights on it nor tie back any branches and don't prune anything else off it for the time being. Remove those ties you have on there immediately, the branches are responding very poorly to being tied.

I can see already it will be a shapely weeper all over given the right amount of time, but it's still just a baby doing what babies are supposed to do at first, which is to establish a strong root system and to grow upwards and form strongly enforced crotches at the junction of each branch at the trunk.

So just let it do its own thing for now. The longer it is growing the longer the ends of the branches will get and each branch will start to bend a lot more to droop downwards. Most of them are already starting to bend to take on the drooping shape. By this time next year it will look a lot more developed and weepy and won't look the same as it does now. Just give it more time and don't force anything on it.

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[L00k4ward]

Originally Posted by uggabugga

this tree was planted about 18 months ago. i've already cut one branch that was vigorously growing upward, and tied down a second one - which is still trying to grow upward.

but still the fastest growing branches want to reach for the sky. any ideas?



should i tie weights to the ends? cutting them off entirely doesn't seem like a good option.

Take a photo of the tree trunk going into the ground.

We want to make sure that your tree is not planted too deep - you must see the root flare above the soil level

https://www.chewvalleytrees.co.uk/gu...it-harms-trees

If it is planted too deep - the growth could be chaotic, the tree will struggle, eventually - die, may take a few years…

In every tree - if you prune off lower branches - the tree will grow high - could have an uncontrolled growth, especially if pruned in a wrong season.

Take a photo of the root flare (if you have one).

If all is good - don’t prune anything except
3 D and 2 C branches:
-dead, diseased and damaged

-crossing and competing

Read on pruning - visuals
https://www.1kfriends.org/wp-content...ee-pruning.pdf

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by uggabugga

this tree was planted about 18 months ago. i've already cut one branch that was vigorously growing upward, and tied down a second one - which is still trying to grow upward.

but still the fastest growing branches want to reach for the sky. any ideas?



should i tie weights to the ends? cutting them off entirely doesn't seem like a good option.

It's way too young to be trying to cut or worry about the weeping. It will weep. Just let the dang tree grow a bit!