Help identify some of these ( trees/shrubs)

Question: I bought a house a year ago and all of the trees flower in the spring. They are beutiful and some have fruit that grow. I am wondering if you can help me identify some of them. I would like to find the best way to care for them, and if I can use the fruits from them for my own use. 
Thank you for your time, I hope you have a great day.

responder: Thank you for your question!  Replied April 16, 2023, 4:47 PM EDT
response: Hello Laura Congratulations on your new home! We usually need a picture of the whole plant, a branch clearly showing leaves and buds, and then a picture showing any fruit or flowers to I.D. A plant. But, assuming all 3 pictures are of plants in bloom right now, these 3 appear to be as follows: Your first picture is forsythia (Forsythia species). This shrub can be pruned to shape and size each year, after blooms have faded. If you prune too late after its blooms fall, then you may prune off next year’s flower buds.This shrub also is a good indicator of, when it is in bloom, it is time to apply crabgrass pre-emergent on your lawn, if needed. Here is more about forsythia: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/forsythia-forsythia-spp/ https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2020/02/when-how-do-you-prune-overgrown-forsythia The flowers are edible, but not the fruit capsule or seeds: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/forsythia/ The second picture of the white flowers appear to be cherry blossoms (Prunus species) if the picture was taken this week. Please attach a picture of the tree these flowers are from so I can confirm that it is a cherry. (one to show the whole tree, and the bark ) If it is, then you will likely need a spray schedule to protect fruits from insects and fungi. You may also need to erect a bird net to keep some fruit for yourself. Here is more on fruit tree care, with a section on cherries: Midwest backyard fruit care guide: https://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/mw_home_fruit_productn_b591.pdf Pests, spray schedule: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/id/id-146-w.pdf The last picture is flowering quince, Chaenomeles species, not to be confused with common quince, Cydonia species. It does occasionally set fruit, which is edible, but mostly used to make jellies and jams because of its high pectin content; it has little flavor. Here is more on ornamental quince: https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2018/9/quince/ And how to tell flowering from common quince: https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2018/9/quince/ A good rule to follow for any shrub you are not growing for fruit, is to prune it after flowers fade, and to not prune off any more than 1/3 of the total crown in one season. As always, never use a garden chemical on edible fruit plants that is not labeled for use on that particular edible fruit. Please read and follow all directions and precautions when using any garden pesticides or fertilizers.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 07, 2023, 4:06 PM EDT
response: Hi, So I have a bit of an update on these trees with the white flowers. The middle flower in the line up of three. That tree has produced large cherries this year, and I am trying to figure out if they are sweet or tart so I can trim the tree accordingly. The tree it's self is about 25- 30 ft tall. I have picked some of the unripe cherries in hopes that I can let them ripen in my house before all the animals get to them. It appears that the cherries on this tree do turn all red. Like I said though I have picked some early so I can at least taste the fruit when ripened.

responder: Thank you for your question!  Replied June 07, 2023, 11:03 PM EDT
response: Hello Cherries will not ripen off the tree.  To keep wildlife away while they ripen, place a net bag, nylon tulle netting, or a light row cover wrapped around a branch, and tied closed at both ends. . Check each day to be sure an animal isn’t caught in your cover.  If it is only birds, you may use bird netting but, this still needs to be checked at least once per day for caught birds or other animals. If this proves effective, you can consider netting enough branches each season  for your use, after green fruits form. If you only have one cherry tree, and your nearby neighbors do not have any, then your tree is likely a tart cherry tree, because they are self pollinating. Tart cherries are less bothered by birds than sweet cherries, according to some references. Sweet cherry trees need a second cherry tree somewhere near by, and blooming at the same time, to cross pollinate and to set fruit. References- https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-should-i-harvest-sour-cherries https://u.osu.edu/cfaescapstone/tree-fruits/cherries/varieties/ https://extension.psu.edu/controlling-birds-on-fruit-crops

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 1:28 PM EDT
response: Hello, I figured that they wouldn't ripen that is why I didn't pick alot. It was an experiment really to see if they would. It is not only birds but squirrels as well. The inside of the cherries are clear, and I have two cherry trees in my back yard. It doesn't seem like any of my other neighbors has any fruit trees in their yard.  I think it might be a sweet if they leave tart cherries alone. Last year this tree was literally picked clean before I could get anything from it.  The other cherry tree I have is definitely a tart cherry the birds don't really bother with the fruits on that tree.

responder: Thank you for your question!  Replied June 08, 2023, 3:36 PM EDT
response: Very good, Imthink you have got it!  The last of 3 links I referenced will give you some ideas on controlling the wildlife. If the tree is  distanced from other trees building and wires far enough, you could put a squirrel baffle on the trunk and reduce or eliminate squirrel access to the sweet cherry tree. See attached picture from https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/20-wildlife#squirrels Best of luck with your trees!