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Where to plant cherry trees


What to Consider When Planting a Cherry Tree in Your Yard

How to grow and care for cherry trees

By Cayla Leonard

Cherries are excellent for toppings or snacks on their own. They’re a great way to add some color and a burst of extra flavor to a variety of dishes and desserts. You can get cherries at the supermarket, of course, but you can also grow your own! If you’re interested in growing cherries at home, you’ll need a cherry tree. Here’s a handy guide for planting and caring for cherry trees. We’ll tell you where to plant them, how to care for them, what variety you should choose, and any special concerns such as diseases or common problems.

Contents

Choosing where to plant cherry trees

Choose an area that gets consistent sun to ensure healthy growth and regular production. The area should have well-draining soil, and it should be soft and moist at the time of planting. The best times to plant are spring and fall when the weather is mild. The ground is often harder during winter, when it may be frozen, and in some climates during the summer, when exposed ground may be partially baked.

Cherry trees often have deep root systems, so take care to avoid areas with shallow soil or rock beds below the surface. Some cherry varieties will self-pollinate, while others will not, so you may need multiple trees. Cherry trees will need to be planted 20 to 40 feet apart, depending on variety, so make sure you have plenty of space for all your trees.

When planting, make sure the hole you’re putting the tree into is deep enough. You want a hole that is as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Fill the hole in carefully, so that the tree is standing straight up. Don’t forget to water it and give it a nice layer of mulch!

Once it’s planted, you can expect your first harvest about three to four years after planting. After it has bloomed, when it begins to produce fruit, be sure to cover it with garden netting. Otherwise you can expect birds to make off with your harvest.

Cherry tree varieties

Before discussing individual varieties, it’s important to talk about the major categories. There are sweet cherries, which can be eaten on their own, and are often used to top desserts or as ingredients. Sour cherries, on the other hand, are typically not eaten on their own, and are almost always used for jams, jellies, preserves, and pies. Sour cherry trees are also generally smaller, meaning they take up less space, and are self-pollinating.

There are also full sized versus dwarf varieties. Dwarf varieties are smaller, as the name suggests, taking up much less room than other varieties and bearing less fruit. However, dwarf varieties also typically produce fruit faster, in about three years rather than four.

There are a lot of individual varieties for sweet and sour cherries, and it’s a good idea to buy a few cherries from several varieties before purchasing a full tree so you’re sure to get what you want. You also might consider taking a look at your local farmers market and speaking to anyone in your area who grows cherries. They may have special insight into what varieties work best with your soil and climate.

In the U.S., the most common sweet cherry variety is the Bing cherry, while Europe prefers the Kordia cherry. These cherries have a lovely dark color and are sweet and juicy. For sour cherries, the favorite is far and away the Montmorency cherry. They’re bright red, smaller, and go great in pies.

Special concerns about cherry trees

Cherry trees are susceptible to some common diseases, although different varieties may have varying levels of resistance to them. Arguably the worst of these problems is rot, which can attack the roots and, once it sets in, is incurable. However, rot is easily prevented by making sure the soil drains well. Rot only becomes an issue if the soil stays wet for too long.

For most other diseases, such as black knot fungus, cankers, and blight, the treatment is to prune the infected area to prevent spread. In general, look for any unusual growths on the tree, and prune the infected branches below the growth.

The fruits of the cherry tree are often attractive for insects. While birds can be kept at bay with netting, insects typically require a pesticide spray. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, and wash your fruit thoroughly before eating it.

Cherries are fun to eat and add a little something extra to any dessert or fruit platter. Whether you’re serving up sundaes or a sweet fruit cocktail, having your very own cherry tree is a great way to have fresh cherries. Make sure you have plenty of room, and plant your tree or trees somewhere sunny where water doesn’t tend to pool, and you can have fresh cherries in three to four years! See the beautiful blossoms in spring, and then enjoy the literal fruits of your labor!

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When To Plant Cherry Trees By Zone? [And Tips For Best Growth]

The vibrant cherry trees are pleasing to the eyes, especially when blossoming. Not only that, but they also produce delicious and enticing fruit! We know that different zones have different climates, but how does that affect planting your own cherry trees? We've done the leg work, and here's what we found out! 

Cherry trees are vulnerable to root rot, so it needs well-draining soil to grow. With that, the best time to plant cherry trees is during spring and fall because the soil is moist and soft. This is true regardless of which hardiness zone you live in. However, sweet cherries grow best in zones 5 - 7 and sour cherries in zones 4 - 6.

In this article, we will get to know further the family of cherry trees so that you will also get to identify what suits your preference. Also, planting cherry trees requires careful hand, so we'll discover some best ways to do it successfully. Keep on reading below to know more!

When To Plant Cherry Trees in Different Zones

Cherries are delicious and cherry trees also produce some of the most beautiful flowers. It's no wonder that you would want to grow some cherry trees at home. Choosing the right time to plant your cherry trees is important for the health and productivity of your trees.

The best time to plant cherry trees is in early spring or late fall, a few weeks after or before frost. This is when the ground is the easiest to work.

You may wonder if your hardiness zone affects the best time to plant your cherry tree. It does, to an extent, since the last and first frost dates will vary from location to location, but the general rule is the same.

Zones are important in terms of choosing your cherries though. Sour cherries handle the cold a bit better than sweet cherries. Most sour cherry varieties are cold-hardy in zones 4 - 6 and most sweet cherries in zones 5 - 7.

Going any colder and your tree will suffer during the deep chills of winter. If you go any warmer, your tree might not receive enough cold days to produce flowers and fruit in the spring and summer.

Types of Cherry Tree

Before jumping into planting, you must first know what kind of root to plant, depending on your needs. Mainly, you can choose between potted or bare-root cherry trees and buy them in any nearby botanical store. Now, what makes them different?

Potted Cherry Tree

Check out this dwarf cherry tree on Amazon

Potted cherry trees are rooted in a container and are usually grown in greenhouses. They have to be kept in a pot that is deeper and larger than the tree's root ball. This is to allow space for the cherry tree's growth.

Since it has to be in a pot or container, there must be a hole for the water drainage. If the hole is too large and lets dirt through, put a mesh screening or fabric on the bottom of the pot so the soil will not fall from it.

One advantage of potted cherry trees is that they are available all year round.

Bare-root Cherry Tree

A bare-root cherry tree is initially freshly harvested from the soil, meaning it has no compost connected to its roots yet.

It is primarily planted in raw soil in the ground, so it is only available around spring and autumn. When bought, bare roots are simply cloth-wrapped.

Sweet or Sour? Choose Your Cherry's Taste

Other than what type of roots you prefer, you might also want to know which flavor you like to hit your tastebud.

Like the red and green apple that comes from one family, cherry trees also have variations in taste after blossoming despite being rooted in one fruit family. The two types of cherries are sweet and sour.

Sweet Cherries

The sweet cherry tree or Prunus avium is said to be originated in the Black and Caspian Seas.

This type of cherry is similar to a plum texture due to its thickness and sweet taste. Most sweet cherries grow well in hardiness zones 5 through 7. Note that they are usually not self-pollinating, so you will need two to three trees for them to grow.

It needs a spacious garden, but if you have a limited area, you can resort to the self-pollinating cultivar, Stella.

Some of the sweet cherry trees are:

Sour Cherries

Sour cherry trees are also known as tart cherry. Their origin is found in some parts of Europe and southwestern Asia.

Compared to sweet cherries, sour cherries are smaller in size and grow best in hardiness zones 4 through 6. In addition, it is self-fertile, so it does not need more pollination trees, unlike sweet cherries.

With their sourness, tart cherries are not usually eaten raw. They are more suited for preservation and other culinary uses.

Some of the best sour cherry trees are:

How to Plant Cherry Trees

As mentioned, cherry trees are quite vulnerable, especially when the soil is too hard from the cold or too baked from the sun. Also, the planting can vary since cherry tree roots have two types.

To prep your cherry tree, the essential materials are as follows:

  1. Shovel
  2. Supporting rod
  3. Gardening shears
  4. Potting soil
  5. Compost soil
  6. Protecting net, Coconut fiber

With that, here are the ways in proper planting which you can do even in your own backyard.  

Planting Bare-root Cherry Trees

Soak the Roots in Water

To prepare a bare-root cherry tree for planting, soak the root in water for about one to two hours but no more than six hours. This will keep the roots alive while you are digging the soil bed.

Dig a Spacious Hole

Dig a large hole and put the most nutritious topsoil on the bottom of it. This will help the roots grow.

For your topsoil, mix in manure, compost, and neutral coir (or peat as an alternative but note that it can affect the soil Ph).

Place the Cherry Tree in the Soil

When the topsoil mixture and the hole space are ready, it is now time to put the cherry tree and its roots in the hole.

Hold the trunk to keep the tree standing firmly in the center. Do not forget that the graft union (dwarf and semi-dwarf types) should be two to three inches above the ground. To identify it, look for a bumpy area on the tree's lower trunk.

Filling In the Hole

Gradually put the soil into the hole and make sure to leave no space for the air pockets by softly compacting it downwards.

Planting Potted Cherry Trees

Keep the Roots Hydrated

The tree should have been watered shortly before you purchased or received it. However, if you will not plant it right away, keep the soil damp but do not soak it in a container of water to avoid root rot.

Also, keep it in an isolated place to keep it in shape.

Remove the Roots from the Container

To safely remove the tree from its container package, hold both sides of the pot gently to slide the tree out. If it does not come out easily, try to grasp the inner edges of the pot to loosen the tree out of it.

You need to remove it immediately from the package because most don't have a hole in the bottom, which means no water drainage and greater risk of root rot.

Clean the Roots and Plant It

Detached roots might still have some intact soil in them. So, you have to spread it and carefully untangle the roots to clean them from the latter soil.

Repeat the process above when the roots are already clean, and the tree is safe from the container. Put the tree in the center hole, backfill with topsoil, and cover with soil.

The stake or pole that keeps the tree upright from its delivery can remain until planting. But if you know how to do it again, you can replace the stake with a new one.

Maintaining Your Planted Cherry Tree

Taking care of your planted cherry tree has no difference in both types. Hence, you will be applying some techniques for both of them to thrive for the next few years. Typically, it will take four years before you harvest the fruits, and expect 30-5- quarts per season.

To have a successful harvest, you need to maintain the tree, especially during its first years. Without further ado, here are some tips to take care of your cherry tree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do cherry trees grow best?

Plant cherry trees in a location where the full sun is accessible. Full sun in this context is taken as six to eight hours of sunlight. This will supply vitamins to the tree and keep it safe from fungal infections.

What is the sweetest cherry variety?

To taste the sweetest cherry, choose the black ones. The well-known type is the Bing cherry, which you can identify by its dark color and heart-shaped figure. You may also like Chelan, Sweetheart, Lambert, and Tulare cherries.

Conclusion

Cherry trees are like a beautiful dream from their blossoming period to their fruiting time. They grow best in hardiness zones 4 to 7, depending on the variety. Regardless of which zone you live in, you should plant them in early spring or late fall for the best results.

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Proper planting of sweet cherry seedlings in autumn and spring

Interest in sweet cherries has increased significantly in recent years. Delicious and sweet fruits do not leave anyone indifferent. For gardeners, many varieties have been bred that are suitable for growing cherries in Siberia.

Cherry is the closest relative of cherry, but as a more heat-loving crop, it requires a special approach. Almost all of its varieties are self-fertile and cannot be pollinated by their own pollen in spring. For good pollination, it is necessary to plant at least 2-3 varieties of sweet cherries with a close flowering period.

How to choose a cherry seedling

Cherry seedlings are sold in 2 versions:

When is it better to plant sweet cherries - in spring or autumn

Cherry planting in Siberia is carried out in early spring, before bud break, and in autumn - in early September. The younger the plants, the better they take root. Both annual and biennial sweet cherry seedlings are equally suitable for planting in spring and autumn. The main thing is the presence of a well-developed root system and a strong green stem.

Choosing a place to plant sweet cherries

Planting cherry seedlings in spring

1. In the planting hole, make a depression slightly larger than the roots of the seedling.

2. A planting stake is inserted into the bottom of the pit and the mixture from the top fertile soil layer is covered.

3. A third of the hole is covered with nutrient mixture, making a mound in the center and sprinkling it with fertile soil without fertilizers.

4. It is necessary to plant without deepening the root collar. To do this, during planting, the seedling is raised 4-5 cm above the soil level. In the future, when the soil settles, the root neck will be at ground level (Fig. 1).

5. Compact the soil around the planted tree, make a hole with a roller and pour out a bucket of water.

6. After that, the hole is sprinkled with peat or humus.

7. The sapling is tied to a stake with twine in the form of a figure eight so that it does not sway in the wind.

8. After planting, cherries should be mulched with peat, straw or other mulch.

Fig 1 - Scheme of planting cherries - the correct position of the root neck

How to plant cherries in autumn

Therefore, all planting work in the fall must be completed before severe frosts.

Planting technology in autumn is the same as in spring. The only difference is that the layer of mulch must be at least 15 cm to protect the cherry from freezing.

If you do not have time to plant sweet cherries before severe frosts, then it is better to bury the plant until spring (Fig. 2). Seedlings with a closed root system are stored in the pit along with the pot.

Fig. 2 - The correct location of the cherry in the pit in autumn

More in this category: “Apple trees on dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstock. Planting dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees. A Practical Guide to Planting Honeysuckle in the Garden »

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when and how to plant correctly

A few decades ago, ripe cherry berries were available only to gardeners in the southern regions of Russia.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, now sweet cherries can be grown very successfully in more northern latitudes: updated, hybrid varieties are less thermophilic and demanding on the length of daylight hours.

However, with regard to the planting of young trees (seedlings), practically nothing has changed: in the same way, knowledge of planting technology, the right choice of season, term and variety, as well as post-planting care are required in order to better adapt the seedling to a permanent place of growth.

Properly performed initial - planting - stage sweet cherries are guaranteed a long life and confident, abundant fruiting.

Cherry characteristics

Cherry is a member of the kingdom of plants that form a tree trunk, for which it is ranked among the trees of the first magnitude.

Most likely, cherries originated more than eight thousand years ago from cherries widely cultivated in ancient Europe and Asia (on the site of modern Turkey).

Actually, sweet cherry is the closest "relative" of cherry, and medieval botanists learned to distinguish both fruit cultures confidently only by 1491 year.

Ancient Romans already knew cherries in the form that is known to modern man, calling it “Curasuntian fruits” in honor of the ancient city.

Cherry belongs to the taxonomic system unit (species) of the genus Plum, and the family that includes cherries has the poetic name "Pink" (they are also Rosehips).

Young sweet cherry plants, when properly cared for, grow amazingly fast, gradually forming an ovoid or cone-shaped crown of a mature tree.

When is the best time to plant: autumn or spring?

The answer to this question directly depends on the climatic features of the region!

Due to the vulnerability of young trees, they are planted in such a way as to minimize the adverse seasonal environmental impacts.

So, in the southern regions, with their relatively mild winters and early heat, it is more expedient to “burrow the cherries into the ground” in the fall, so that during the winter dormancy the root system has time to form and meet dry winds, insects and the withering southern sun “fully armed”.

In cold climatic zones, they avoid planting sweet cherries in winter, because they can simply freeze. Planted in late spring, a tree in a relatively favorable summer will be able to take root and get stronger enough to meet wintering with a more or less viable seedling.

Preparing cuttings for spring planting

To prevent cuttings planted in spring from early drought, all leaves are removed before planting: this way the plant will take root faster and not become dehydrated.

Choice of variety

If it is not planned to plant more than two cherry seedlings, then it is very important to choose the right variety so as not to be disappointed later.

Using the botanical classification, two types of sweet cherries are distinguished in horticulture:

Those who want to enjoy juicy, tender berries as early as possible should choose varieties marked “ghini”: they ripen early and are suitable for immediate consumption while fresh.

If the owner of the cherry tree intends to harvest berries for the future and is not in a hurry to ripen the crop, the variety should be labeled “bigarro”: such berries are denser in texture and keep well.

In total, four thousand different varieties of sweet cherry have been bred in the world, of which 46 are the achievements of domestic breeders.

No less important is the approach of responsible and adequate selection when looking for winter-hardy varieties.

The most proven in this capacity were:

For St. Petersburg and its environs, Yurga, Leningradskaya Black, Teremoshka, Seda, Bryanskaya Rose are best suited.

Another advantage of modern varieties is that trees can be grown, depending on the variety, as giant or dwarf trees, not exceeding a three-meter mark.

According to the color of the skin and pulp, the gardener is free to choose from varieties:

Cherry planting dates for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region

Despite the cold-resistant varieties, the sweet cherry still remains a southern plant, which reacts sharply to early frosts and a long winter period.

And if in the South of Russia young sweet cherries are recommended to be planted in a permanent place of growth after the fall of foliage, i.e. in autumn, then in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region they do the opposite, planting seedlings in the spring, when the danger of early and severe frosts has passed, when even -2 ° C is fatal. So they are more likely to take root.

The best months for such an event are the last week of April and the whole of May.

Along the way, the gardener has the opportunity to control the vegetation process and, if necessary, help the tree to overcome certain adverse factors.

Requirements for soil and planting site

A tree, both young and fruitful, cannot tolerate dampness, cold moldy soils, and lowlands and surface groundwater (from one and a half meters) are contraindicated for it.

Likewise, soils that retain moisture for a long time are detrimental to the health of the root system, which is why they try to ensure that the soil where the seedling will be planted is well drained and has the following composition:

In addition, this fruit tree does not tolerate acidic soils.

Cherry is a photophilous plant that needs high insolation, especially during the vegetative period. Therefore, the most preferred areas of the plot for cherries will be located on:

In addition, sweet cherries are almost wind-resistant, so you will have to take care to protect the area from the wind.

Preparing the planting hole

In order to provide the soil with good porosity and permeability to moisture and oxygen, the hole in which the seedling will be planted is prepared by filling it with drainage materials.

The earth taken out when digging a hole is not returned back, replacing its entire volume with fertile soil specially prepared for stone fruit trees.

Light mode

Another "quirk" of sweet cherries that adds problems to the gardener is the sensitivity of the tree to the lack of sunlight.

In order to avoid diseases of sweet cherries, they are planted on sunny plots, and nearby high relatives are not allowed.

In order for the sweet cherry to be illuminated as best as possible, its crown is formed of the upper, or, in extreme cases, the middle tier.

Additional recommendations

In general, experienced gardeners recommend planting several cherry trees in one area at once, since sweet cherries are self-infertile plants, i.e. those that in a single copy are deprived of fertility.

Fulfillment of the condition of simultaneous planting of three or four specimens will provide them with a yield not only in the number of fruit-bearing trees, but in the number of ovaries on them, since the more mutual pollinators, the more berries are formed on flowering trees.

Another recommendation concerns plant resistance to the fungal stone fruit disease coccomycosis: seedlings grown under special nursery conditions are resistant to the parasitic pathogen Cossomuces hiemalis.

Soil preparation

The soil is prepared ahead of time, since autumn, by digging it deep and introducing 10 kg of last year's humus per square meter of dug up soil area, and also flavored with purchased fertile soil.

Organic manure can be combined with mineral fertilizers in the proportions indicated by the manufacturer.

Too loose, sandy soil is corrected by adding natural clay.

Seedling preparation before planting

The main requirement for a seedling is high-quality grafting and the physical ability to endure the planting process.

To do this, the sweet cherry must have a single rather thick trunk and a good root system.

Before planting in the soil, the seedling is lowered into a bucket of warm water, where it should be at least 24 hours.

Then the length of the roots of the soaked seedling is corrected (slightly shortened so that the entire root system enters the hole).

Step-by-step instructions for planting

The first thing an amateur gardener should do is to prepare the soil, digging up and fertilizing the place of the future cherry orchard at least a year in advance.

Then they attend to the search for a zoned cherry variety, not being seduced by beautiful photographs on the labels, but sensibly reasoning about the adaptation of the seedling to a particular climate.

The next step is to prepare for planting the seedling itself, lowering it into a container of water for a day.

Next prepare the soil.

At the fourth stage, planting is carried out, not forgetting to sufficiently moisten the soil surrounding the root system of the newly planted tree at its end, pouring at least 30 liters of water into it.

Planting begins with pouring buckets of water into a fairly deep dug hole.

Then a seedling is placed on a support so that the basal neck peeks out of the hole by 5 cm.

The pit is covered with earth, covering all the horses, and the soil is compacted.

Further care of sweet cherries

Having successfully carried out a competent planting of a young tree, it is too early for a gardener to exhale, believing that half of the work is done and all fifteen years - and this is exactly how long a healthy cherry successfully bears fruit - the tree will not need care.

In general, with the life potential of a sweet cherry equal to one century, it will take about the same amount of time to take care of it, however, it is no longer harvested annually from an aging plant.

Even a perfectly planted and rooted cherry tree every season will certainly need special care due to the capriciousness of sweet cherries to many factors (light, humidity, temperature, soil composition, etc.).

For example, in the second year after planting, sweet cherries will need to be removed quickly filling the space around the tree and pulling out the life forces from it.

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