Hi Don. I was taught not to prune until the trees were dormant. That means
in the winter. Since we are having winter here, you are having summer down
there. I would wait until they are dormant. I was taught that if you prune
them before they are dormant, diseases and insects will have a way to get in
the tree.

Next, I wouldn't prune them too hard if they are that young. I would take
out any dead wood on the tree, any limbs that are growing toward the ground,
any limbs that are growing toward the center of the tree, and any limbs,
that if left alone, would soon be rubbing against another branch that will
be more important to you later.

Within the next few years, you will need to look at the tree and see how it
is shaped. Then you will have to decide how you want it to look in 10
years. As you prune it, shape it the way you want it to be. You prune
above a bud pointed in the direction you want the tree to grow.

I have an apple tree that started out with 5 main center branches. You
aren't supposed to take out more than 1/3 of the tree at any one pruning, so
I took off the two smallest unwanted leaders. Then I put a brace on the one
I had selected for my best leader, to make it pull toward the center of the
tree. Within the next 2 or 3 years, I will have that branch the center of
the tree, the other 4 leaders will be gone, and it will be shaped like a
tree, not a funnel.

Have fun. Dwayne


"Don" wrote in message
...
My cherry trees have just given us our first fruits since being planted.
I have finished picking and need to prune the tree (or so I am told). As
I don't have any experience in pruning and wouldn't know a leader from a
politician, can someone help me out with a layman's guide to what I need
to do!!

merry Christmas all.

--
Don From Down Under