My Weeping Higan Cherry tree doesn't weep. Can I do something?

Question

The branches grow straight up and I suspect that it may be because someone in the past,not knowing better, topped off the tree and now the branches that are growing are all from the side of the trunk. Is there anything I can do to make the branches curve downwards? Weight the branches or loosely tie the ends downwards to the trunk? And is this an okay time of year to do it?

Answer 1

Get out the pruners or a saw. Prostrate, downward growing branches don't make for an upright, straight trunk so most of the weeping cherries sold in this country are grafted on another variety of cherry to get it up off the ground. What is happening is that the understock tree used for the trunk is taking over. If it is too far gone, you may have to replace it.

If you look closely at the trunk , even on trees that are very young, you may find buds below the point where the weeping parts are that are beginning to sprout out and grow straight up. These sprouts have a better connection to the root and will take over the whole tree if allowed to develop. Remove any upward growing sprouts from below the graft immediately! If branches above the graft (attached to weeping branches) are heading up, these can be left on as they will go up some and then weep over without encouragement. Look closely at the leaves of weeping and non-weeping parts and you will soon be able to distinguish which need to be removed. These trees are fast growing enough that even if you find now you have to prune out like half the plant to get rid of them it may be OK. You may have some scars on the trunk that take time to heal over. The speed at which the understock sprouts take over is astonishing, so I would not wait another minute to start hacking. Be cautious not to damage the branch collar (the ring of bark surrounding the end of the branch where it attaches to the trunk) when pruning, as it is the source of tissue to grow over the pruning wound. Watch those branch collars closely though since it is very likely that more sprouts will emerge exactly there.

Answer 2

Weeping Higan Cherry

Answer 3

Ask for a refund!

Many weeping style trees are originally sold as regular trees with a graft of the weeping variety on top. If the weeping graft was broken off or died, the regular tree will send out new branches & take over... so you end up with a regular straight up tree.

So if it is a grafted tree & you lost the weeping part, either learn to love your non-weeping cherry or replace it because it will never weep on its own!

Or you could use modified bonsai techniques. But that will take a long time & will need to be done FOREVER.

Answer 4

About the Weeping Cherry :
The Weeping Cherry tree, Prunus subhirtelia 'Pendula', has a medium growth rate for its arching vertical growth, but a rapid growth rate for its many weeping stems. The Higgins Weeping Cherry tree prefers moist, well-drained soils of average fertility in full sun, but is adaptable to poor soils, compacted soils, dry soils, and heat. It is a specimen tree with single trunk. This deciduous tree has branches that are strongly weeping in form. Heavy flowering in spring lasts one week. Bronzy-brown bark is smooth and attractive.
Fall color is a mixture of green, chartreuse, and yellow. It is a sought after accent tree in late winter or early spring, with its showy pink flowers that emerge before the foliage emerges on pendulous branches. If desired, stems that weep to the ground can be pruned up to a desired height (either staggered in height for informality, or clipped to precisely the same height for formality) so that mowing, growth of other ornamentals, or maintenance access can be achieved underneath the tree.

Answer 5

Try reading it a sad love story.....it'll weep

Answer 6

hang a picture of pres. bush on it

Answer 7

i dont know what you are talking baout

Answer 8

verbally abuse it