Cherry Tree question

[Mrs Ava]

Can you copice a cherry tree?  I ask as mum has one, but it is a monster and she cannot get to the fruit anymore.  On my allotment, the fella on the plot next to me cut down his apple tree leaving a 4 foot stump - did this last year.  This year loads of whippy branches grew, which are now laden with apples!  Would cherry do the same?  The cherry tree is a good 15 years or more old and is a sweet yellow eater.  Fanks!  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

[Robert_Brenchley]

I would imagine so, though if you're cutting at four feet that's more akin to pollarding than coppicing.

[Mrs Ava]

aha, it was late Robert and I kinda knew in my mind what I meant.  I wouldn't want to cut it down to a stump at ground level, but then would that work also???? Would please mum no end.

[calendula]

why not try with part of the tree, just a few branches to see what happens - I have had to do this with my 2 gages as they were supposed to be on dwarf stock but have become huge and not very prolific, so I am hoping the hard pruning will work

[Robert_Brenchley]

My Cambridge Gage is growing like mad as well; what is it you have? I suppose you could coppice a cherry, but if it's strong growing it'll soon shoot up again. You'll lose the crop for a couple of years until it's got a reasonable amount of fruiting wood again.