walshie Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 After cutting down some monster leylandii over the last 2 weekends, we found a sorry looking cherry tree that had been growing behind them in among the scraggy willows. It's about 50ft high but very skinny and has a bend in it where it has been trying to get some light. There are no branches lower down, but at the top there are 2 branches and seem to have a lot of blossom. I assume it has borne fruit in the past as there are a fair few cherry saplings growing around its base. The willows are coming down shortly. Now it has access to light, will it thicken out and grow lower branches on its own, does it need topping, pruning, or is it a lost cause? Any advice much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 give it some and fork in some pottassium and potash... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 I wouldn't take anything off it. It might have been starved of light and growth, but it's also been protected from the elephants. Weakening it further by removing stuff could be fatal. I'd go with @ditchmanand give it nutrients at the base It will thicken over time and now the available light is from the other direction, should straighten out and give a more even canopy, which'll help with stability. Certainly worth a go at saving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 They are serious Leylanii, someone has been busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 Yes, my advice is to do same as above but give it a couple years and it may surprise you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted May 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 17 minutes ago, Mice! said: They are serious Leylanii, someone has been busy. 16 of them @ 60ft. Old dear who lived here before us planted them as a hedge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 1 hour ago, walshie said: 16 of them @ 60ft. Old dear who lived here before us planted them as a hedge. We had a row at ours when we moved in, for privacy they said? Not as big as yours thankfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumfelter Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 9 hours ago, chrisjpainter said: I wouldn't take anything off it. It might have been starved of light and growth, but it's also been protected from the elephants. Weakening it further by removing stuff could be fatal. I'd go with @ditchmanand give it nutrients at the base It will thicken over time and now the available light is from the other direction, should straighten out and give a more even canopy, which'll help with stability. Certainly worth a go at saving Elephants? In Wales! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 14 minutes ago, stumfelter said: Elephants? In Wales! global warming mate ...the effects ...come on get with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted May 16, 2022 Report Share Posted May 16, 2022 2 hours ago, stumfelter said: Elephants? In Wales! Yeah, didn't you know? Giraffes under the door usually follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted May 17, 2022 Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 8 hours ago, chrisjpainter said: Yeah, didn't you know? Giraffes under the door usually follow Don't be silly - it is well known that Giraffes can't bend their legs 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted May 17, 2022 Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 Depends what your wanting from it ? Nothing fine just feed it and leave it . Fruit there going to be fifty foot up in the air your never going to be able to pick them might be better cutting it down and planting a new one on miniture root stock ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted May 17, 2022 Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 Quite a few cherry trees are grown for the flowering and not the fruit (which can be hard and sour). My parents grew cherries, but the blackbirds nearly always beat them to the fruits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 17, 2022 Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 3 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: Quite a few cherry trees are grown for the flowering and not the fruit (which can be hard and sour). My parents grew cherries, but the blackbirds nearly always beat them to the fruits! agree........its **** law if the fruit are any good the birds will have them first..........leave the tree there...it will supply food for the wildlife anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted May 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 Thanks for the replies. I'm going to give it some nutrients and leave it as is and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 17, 2022 Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 call me strange but i do like to see nice and neat and tidy...clear as you go..........nice pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 17, 2022 Report Share Posted May 17, 2022 7 hours ago, ditchman said: agree........its **** law if the fruit are any good the birds will have them first..........leave the tree there...it will supply food for the wildlife anyway I have two trees in my orchards and usually manage to get two three handfuls before the blackbirds devour the rest. You could cut it off and seal the cut and then see if it threw any new shoots. Don't know how cherry trees would react but certainly I have cut apples back severley and they have thrown new shoots/branches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted May 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2022 12 hours ago, ditchman said: call me strange but i do like to see nice and neat and tidy...clear as you go..........nice pic Nothing strange about that. I can't abide working in a mess. It would be tidier than this by now, but rain stopped play yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 18, 2022 Report Share Posted May 18, 2022 1 hour ago, walshie said: Nothing strange about that. I can't abide working in a mess. It would be tidier than this by now, but rain stopped play yesterday. dont get rid of all the logs...keep a few and drill loads of 1/2" holes in them for bumble bee's to lay eggs in them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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