go to photobucket.com .. its free and pretty easy ...

and while you are working on that.. is the growth above the graft???

and .. in all reality.. now that you know the annual growth potential ... is this tree properly sited ... or might it not be a better idea to move it.. or get rid of it.. be honest with yourself ...

when we see the pics .. we can go forward with more specific recommendations.. but no tree should be staked nor cabled IMHO ... so expect some hard pruning suggestions ...

and if the flower show is important.. you would prune after next springs flowers.. if not.. whenever you want to do it... though i probably would not do it in winter.. because i dont like to go out in the cold ...

ken

Just a guess.....You ran out of room and need to prune 'it back'. The most common mistake in placing Cherry trees,..... not enough room. Don't do it! You'll end up with weird tips with multiple stems.
Just prune any branch, in the way, where it originates, staying above the graft of course. Anything below is an automatic cut as soon as you see it. This will enable you to have the tree do it's natural thing and still have room to walk....or drive. The idea is to lift the tree above the foot and car traffic issues by trimming the lower branches. No stubbs! Start at the beginning of the offending branch. Eventually you will have a beautiful cascading tree with multiple cascades above the fray.
Mike

i do not open pix in my private mailbox since i dont know you from adam ... though i do want to help ...

so now that you have the photobucket acct ... point at the pic you want to insert here.. a box will pop up .. ... then point at the HTML code.. then click and it will say its 'copied' ...

then come back to this post.. and in the MESSAGE box.. paste the info .. when you hit PREVIEW.. if you see it.. we will all see it ...

i find it easier to have 2 windows open ....

hope to see it soon.. though i may be busy outside for most of the day stringing xmas lights in 25 degree weather...

ken

It sounds very much like you are describing a small weeping ornamental cherry, in which case what you describe is pretty much a typical growth habit. But.....until photos are provided, that's just speculation.

Follow Ken's instructions to open a free photo hosting account and post back.

OK, I've tried to follow Ken's instructions. Am including the link to Photobucket for the two pictures, taken from opposite angles which should illustrate the problem of the horizontal growth (about nine feet in one direction) which was putting enormous pressure on the smallish (4.5 inch) trunk. I'm now supporting it with two stakes and cables but still have the same question: how much further should I allow it to grow before it topples over? And can I safely trim it at the end to stop the branches from going any further or will that damage or kill the tree?

Here is a link that might be useful: Cherry Tree

When purchasing a product, it is wise to find out what the product does before purchase.

Now it is too late.

This tree is doing exactly what it was made to do. Exactly.

And the growth is typical for what weeping cherries do. There might be a branch from below the graft going off in a direction.

I suggest finding a text somewhere, learning about this plant, then learning about how to prune, then marrying the two knowledge sets and set about pruning this plant properly. Good luck.

Dan

dan is right ....

check out the link ... noting the difference between the weepers.. and the regular ones ... it is what it is ....

increase the mulch bed ... and some nice mid to late flowering perennials under it.. and enjoy it for what it is.. and next fall add some nice red tulips to bloom near the same time as the cherry for a wild contrast ...

if you insist on a regular one.. go get another under the proper latin name ...

good luck

ken

i pointed at your pic.. left clicked.. copied the HTML ... and on preview.. here it is:

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Here is a link that might be useful: link

get rid of the cabling and the green hose ... and let it be what it is ..

ken

Make a bed around it to let the branches droop to the ground, without conflicting with mowing.

And from info given it may want more light.

Dan

i dont see any follow up as you mentioned in a private email ...

get a closeup of the top of the trunk .. and we can tell you where the graft is ... but the key is one of 3 things...

if some branches start growing straight up.. they are understock

if some flowers are wildly different.. they are from the understock ...

and if you see wildly different bark.. that is understock ...

now.. take some time to go to the link i gave above.. and see how a weeper.. can be pruned to an area ... your tree does not need to go lateral for 10 .... and as i have a riding lawn mower.. i would not let it ... OR!!! .. i would build a bed for other flowers and stuff.. so that this tree is entirely within .. and then spend a decade or two.. watching this tree do what it wants ... and if it falls over.. so be it ...

below is a pic of a weeping cherry [or something.. maybe not cherry ... others can probably tell] gone bad ... note 2 different flower colors.. and note the bottom weeps and the top goes straight up ... wish i had a better camera back then .. and those limbs with the pink flowers.. look longer than 10 feet ... but then that trunk is bigger than yours.. lol ..

i gotta tell you.. its mystifying i have a picture of this.. lol ...

good luck

ken

PS: if properly planted.. and proper rooted in.. established.. there is no reason a tree can not go lateral for 10 feet.. IF THAT IS WHAT IT WANTS TO DO .... and.. if it were in low light.. most likely .... it would not bloom profusely ....

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For what its worth, because I'm assuming that you haven't been able to do much with the landscape yet: I'd give a look at that big, dark mar

I like the lopsided, windswept look over the bobbed, symetrical, haircut you usually see. It's not big enough in relation to the thickness of the trunk to fall over because of the imbalance. When it is, make it thinner, but keep it windswept.
Just my advice.
Mike

thank you all for your good advice. The consensus seems to be that we need not worry about the tree toppling over and that we need not prune it to re-balance it. It seems to be healthy and happy where it is. As for the dark spots about a foot above ground level, I think it is damage done by an animal, but to be certain I will take a close up photo when we get some sunlight and post it to get a feel for whether I should be concerned. So far, no ill effects on the flowers which are plentiful each spring. Thanks again and Happy Holidays!