Question
I have a weeping cherry (about 10 to 15yrs old) that has been let go for years. Last year I cut it back it looked like a mushroom. This year it has grown back just as bad.. My question is how far back can I cut it back? Its about 8ft high and limbs hanging to the ground. There are 4 or 6 thick branches coming from the trunk. Can I cut back that much?

Answer
I hope this is what you are asking.
When you prune the weeping cherry you need to have a strong, central leader. Prune when it is young and evaluate the tree before making the first cut. Weeping varieties of trees need strong leaders to hold their weeping branches. They also need a few other strong upper branches to grow tall. When they get tall enough they will begin to arch in order to support the long weeping twigs, which is what you want. Prune in late summer or fall so the sap won抰 bleed as much.

Continue to prune as the tree grows. Remove any water sprouts or suckers. If the long weeping branches get long enough to touch the ground do not prune the tips. Some people believe this tip pruning gives the tree an unnatural appearance. Instead of tip pruning place plenty of mulch underneath the tree so when you mow you won抰 have to mow under the tree. The trailing branches will look great.

a new, young weeping cherry tree looks nothing like an old, mature cherry tree. As it grows and matures it will send up tall, strong shoots from the top. Remember that these are the strong leaders that you want to have later on. When you first plant a new, young weeping cherry just look it over and start to evaluate it and do not prune very much in the beginning. Be sure to plant a young tree in a location where it will have room to spread as needed, which is up to thirty feet in diameter. It will depend on the variety that you purchase on the size it will be at maturity.


Weeping cherry trees make good specimen trees because of their weeping habit and their beautiful show of spring flowers. With a back drop of evergreens it will stand out in your landscape.

Limbs sticking out to the side let them go ahead and droop and prune as they reach the ground.