Cherry Tree Care - How To Grow Cherry Trees

Planting cherry trees requires well-drained, fertile soil. Cherry trees are very susceptible to root rot, so the soil needs to be drain well. They also require about eight hours of sunlight daily, so you cannot plant them where they will grow in the shade of other trees.

How do you take care of cherry trees?

Care

There is no difference in care between sour and sweet cherries.
Apply mulch to retain moisture.
Drape netting over trees to protect the fruit from birds.
Water routinely in dry areas.
Thinning the fruit is not necessary for cherry trees, as they typically thin naturally in early summer.

Where do cherry trees grow best?

Washington, Oregon and California produce more than 97 percent of the sweet cherries in the U.S. and the top tart cherry producing state is Michigan. That should give you some indication of their climate preferences.

How long does it take for a cherry tree to start producing cherries?

Cherry trees take about three years to establish and can begin bearing fruit in the fourth year. Most fruit crops do not produce the same year you plant it, but once it begins fruiting, it can continue to do so for years—a mature cherry tree can produce about 30–50 quarts of fruit in a season.

What conditions do cherry trees need to grow?

Cherry trees thrive in a location that gets full sun and has a well-drained, fertile soil. “Full sun” is defined as at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. Sunlight is critical to fruit production and quality, and also helps keep fungal issues from getting a foothold.

What should I spray on my cherry tree?

Pest Control Sprays:

Bonide® All Seasons® Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil.
Bonide® Captain Jack's™ Deadbug Brew Garden Dust.
Bonide® Insecticidal Soap.
Bonide® Thuricide® BT.
GardenTech® Sevin® Bug Killer.
Bonide® Captan Fruit & Ornamental (wettable powder)
Bonide® Copper Fungicide.

What is the best compost for cherry trees?

For most fruit trees and bushes a proprietary loam-based compost such as John Innes No. 3 is best. Never use garden soil as it is not sufficiently well drained for pot culture. Plants requiring acid conditions (e.g. blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries) must be grown in an ericaceous compost.

Do I need 2 cherry trees to get fruit?

Planting cherry trees requires well-drained, fertile soil. ... This means they do not require more than one tree to produce the fruit. However, if you plant the sweet variety, you will need at least a couple of trees for proper cherry tree pollination.

Is it hard to grow cherry trees?

Growing a cherry tree from a seed or pit is not difficult, but if you want to grow a tree that will yield cherries, there are complications in pollinating your tree and meeting winter chill requirements. ... Cherry trees need eight hours of sun a day in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.7.

What soil do cherry trees like?

Cherries prefer deep, fertile and well-drained soil with pH 6.5-6.7. They dislike shallow, sandy or badly drained soils. Acid cherries tolerate some shade and are suitable as fan-trained trees against north-facing walls or fences, or as open centred bush trees.

Do cherry trees bear fruit every year?

No, cherry trees do not produce fruit every year. Young cherry trees take several years to mature enough to produce fruit. There are two basic types of cherry trees: sweet cherries and sour cherries (also called tart or pie cherries).

What do you feed cherry trees?

As long as fruit trees are small, it is better to use an organic fertiliser combined with compost or mulch. A low analysis, slow release organic fertiliser scratched into the soil's surface around the tree, watered in well and then covered with compost and mulch feeds the soil, which in turn feeds the tree.

What month do cherry trees produce fruit?

Cherry harvest time can occur as early as May in warm climates, but trees planted in these areas are more likely to produce deformed or doubled fruit. In cooler areas, the cherry harvest occurs mostly during June, though it may continue through early July for late-bearing varieties.

How far should a cherry tree be planted from a house?

There's a similar question here so because cherry tree roots are quite superficial and spreading, they can damage structures such as walls. So, keep the trees 20 feet from the wall. Or, you could try growing the tree in an air-pot which would prevent surface root spread.

How long do cherry trees live?

Most cherry blossom trees only live for 30 to 40 years, according to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (which is home to some of the oldest cherry blossoms in the United States). But some species can live longer: black cherry trees can live up to 250 years.

Why are the cherries on my tree so small?

Some of the main causes include: wrong variety / rootstock selection • inadequate or inappropriate pruning • too many fruit on smaller trees—lack of balance (i.e., too much fruit with too little leaf area) • low tree vigour • lack of water at critical times • heat stress.

Should I spray my cherry tree?

Dormant sprays are the most important pesticide applications for cherry trees. These sprays help reduce the number of overwintering insects and pathogens that can damage the trees and reduce yield during the upcoming season. Early dormant sprays are applied in the fall when all of the leaves are gone.

How do I keep bugs off my cherry tree?

Coat your cherry with insecticidal soap as soon as black cherry aphids are active, or wait until after the petals fall from the tree to apply imidacloprid to the soil around your tree. Repeat applications of insecticidal soap weekly until you don't see any more aphids on sticky cards if you choose this option.

What is wrong with my cherry tree?

Common cherry tree problems include rot, spot and knot diseases. Trees can also get blight, canker and powdery mildew. Root and crown rot diseases result from a fungus-like organism that is present in most soils. ... Once a cherry tree has a rot disease, there is no cure.

Are coffee grounds good for cherry trees?

Nitrogen Content of Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are green compost, meaning they're moist and rich in nitrogen. ... Because nitrogen supports green growth, using coffee grounds as compost around trees and shrubs encourages them to grow lush and leggy.

Do cherry trees need a lot of water?

Cherry trees do not need lots of water every day; however, if you discover that your soil or your location's environment require more frequent watering to avoid drought-stress to your cherry trees, adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Can cherry trees grow in containers?

Cherry trees can definitely be grown in containers too, use a toy tub or a larger container in depth and diameter. Dwarf cherry trees are quite tolerant to the restricted environment of a container as long as they get the right care.