Often, trees can grow in excess of 1 - 1.25 metres per year, and reach over 5 metres in height within three years.
Growers currently continue to prune trees heavily to maintain the required height.
Constant pruning may have severe consequences on long term production. High vigour during early growth normally delays the onset of the reproductive phase, thus delaying returns. Heavy pruning of trees can lead to diseases such as silverleaf, and also reduce the production efficiency because of extra vegetative vigour that compensates for the amount of pruning. Tree vigour may be controlled by several ways, which include use of dwarfing rootstock, use of plant growth regulators, restriction of root growth and regulated deficit irrigation. The use of dwarfing cherry rootstocks may overcome the vigour problem.