pruning a cherry

[2dogs]

hi
can someone please tell me if i should prune in winter or summer?
and how much i can take off?
its been in the ground for 2years now and is the same shape as one of those cactus seen in western films!
a main stem with 3 branches comming off and going straight up.
id like to keep as short as possible.

[Lesley Jay]

Cherry trees are pruned like plum trees and need pruning between April and June. There are different tree forms but my guess is from your description that your tree is a pyramid form. In the second year cut the main stem back by 18 inches, just above a bud and the remaining stems back to 10 inches, again just above a bud. In the third year cut the main stem back by 18 inches, just above a bud and then any new branches that have grown that year need cutting back to 10 inches again above a bud. Do you know what tree form your cherry tree is and is it a sweet cherry or a morello cherry?

[2dogs]

thanks lesley
just what i needed to know.
its sweet cherry called a hedelfinger.