So I have these two small cherry trees that I planted, into a very small garden, when we bought our house over a decade ago. With the idea to try my hand at espalier. Yes, I know, not one of the recommended fruits, not for the novice, etc.
But I didnt quite do it by the book, as it were. Early on I ‘topped’ both trees, to create lateral growth and keep them small, and easy to care for. Over the years, I muddled forward, battling aphids, till I figured out I wasn’t netting then right, struggling with netting ideas that were too much work, etc, etc. These two, quite hardy, little trees stuck with me as I learned my way along.
Over the last couple of years I have enjoyed more cherries, than the first years provided. Still, I’m not getting younger and I needed a better way to net, plus keeping a cherry tree to a frame is next to impossible, it turns out.
Which brings me to where I am now. I am currently freeing them from there frames and reshaping them into more globe like shapes so they get more air circulation, at the same time I am addressing the netting issue.
The taller of the two trees, once it was topped produced most of its growth well below the stump of the cut. And has been so for several years. The growth, lower and on either side, is robust and productive.
There is a couple of feet of vertical stump above the productive growth. As I’m currently pruning and reshaping (into somewhat roundish), I would like to take some of that down.
How much can I cut off? How close to the lower growth? Make the cut straight across? Or at an angle? Should I protect the cut, in anyway after?
Thanks for any advice you may have!