One of the best options for the garden!
Cherry has it all: its fruits are tasty and appreciated by all, its spring flowering is both romantic and spectacular, and the color of its fall foliage is just as splendid. High and majestic, it also offers a very nice shade !
If you’ve decided to plant one in your garden or need tips on how to prune and care for it, find out in this article. everything you need to know about the cherry tree !
Contents
Where and when to plant a cherry tree?
The planting period of fruit trees is extended. from october to march, since the tree loses its leaves until the first shoots appear. The cherry tree is no exception, so it is also during this period that it should be planted. However, the best time remains the end of autumn or the very beginning of winter (around November December): this way you avoid severe frosts and also allow your tree to take root properly during the winter and to take advantage of the rains for good growth once spring arrives!
Of a rustic type, the cherry tree also has the advantage of grow in all climates And don’t be too picky about flooring. The only ones he doesn’t like very much are compact, clayey soils and those that retain moisture. In your garden, we advise you to plant it in a place where well exposed because it likes the sun (preferably facing south, so) but where will it be too sheltered from cold winds. These flowers, which appear around March/April, fear negative temperatures and are destroyed around -3°. Between the Japanese cherry tree or the bigarreau hessian, also be sure to always choose a variety that is perfectly suited to the region where you live. And don’t forget either that unless you choose a dwarf cherry tree, your mature tree will be 6-10m high with a very flared habit. So plant your cherry tree in a vacuum, away from other trees!
How to plant a cherry tree?
Planting a cherry tree does not require any particular technique: the procedure is simple and classic, accessible to all, similar to that recommended for all fruit trees. Nothing to fear, therefore, if you are not a great gardener! The following explanations are for planting in the ground, but if you have chosen a dwarf varietyobviously you can apply them to plant your cherry tree in a pot. Just be sure to choose a container that is at least 40cm wide. Also note that a cherry tree should be placed on a balcony, terrace, etc. and never sure: it needs a period of winter dormancy to start flowering in the spring!
- prepare your hole dig wider than deep : about 50/60 cm deep but a good meter wide.
- Clear this hole of all potential roots, stones and weeds.
- Mix with the soil you just extracted some fertilizer, compost or well-rotted manure.
- If you are planting a bare root cherry tree: Using pruning shears, start by cutting off the tips of the roots.
- Then prepare a praline, that is to say a mixture of earth and water, in which you will immerse these roots.
- Once done, you can move on to planting.
- If you plant a cherry tree in a plug: Before planting, first start by immersing your root ball in water to hydrate the soil.
- To plant, place your cherry tree in the center of your hole.
- place the neckthat is to say the intermediate part between the roots and the stem, at ground level.
- Also be sure to spread out the roots as much as possible.
- Place a Guardian right next to your cherry tree to keep it straight.
- Then fill the hole with the soil extracted by moderately compacting.
- Form a small bowl around the cherry tree and water generously.
- Finally, tie your tree to its stake, firmly but not too tight so as not to damage the trunk and also leave room for it to grow!
Plant a cherry tree with a hole?
It is quite possible that you plant a cherry tree thanks to a hole! By following the steps below, you can easily turn your cherry pit into a cherry bud. However, you will need to be patient. : With this method, you will have to wait at least 5 years before harvesting your first cherries!
- Collect the cherry pits and clean them so that they have no more pulp.
- In a large pot, place a first layer of wet sand.
- Arrange your cherry pits in this arena.
- Cover them with a second layer of wet sand.
- Store them all winter in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
- In the spring, plant your holes about 2 cm deep.
- Water and wait for germination.
- Once germinated, water the plants frequently.
- Finally put the most vigorous in the ground once they have reached 60 cm.
When and how to prune a cherry tree?
A pruning after planting and a small maintenance pruning, that’s all! The cherry tree is one of those fruit trees that I don’t really like the size of the fruiting bodies, these prunings that promote the production of quality fruit full of flavor. Cutting its branches causes the gum to flow, and this flow tends to weaken the tree. You can let your cherry tree develop naturally, your cherry production will not be affected and you will have less work to do!
If you find that your the cherry tree is too big what takes now too much space in your garden, it is not the size that is needed but the size. And for this operation it is better to turn to a professional gardener. Indeed, you will have the right equipment to prune your cherry tree in height without taking any risks, and you will also be able to carry out this pruning without harming the fruiting of your tree.
workout size
The year following the planting of your cherry tree, it is advisable to prune your shrub to mold your frame to be both airy and balanced. This training pruning should be done In autumn, after leaf fall. And since your tree branches will still be quite thin, you can also cut them easily with a branch cutter.
- Select 4-5 main branches around your cherry tree.
- Cut all others.
- Finish by chewing the wounds well.
maintenance pruning
Even if the cherry tree does not support fruiting pruning, it can still reach some small maintenance sizesnot necessarily every year, but rather every 2 or 3 years. These prunings are mainly used to aerate the cherry tree and prevent it from collapsing under its own weight. To be done preferably in the fall (october or november), it is also possible to do them in winter if it is not too cold and the weather is not too humid. And as a last resort, you can also consider mars.
- Cut off dead branches that have not produced fruit.
- Also remove branches that cross and grow inward if there are too many.
- Shorten branches that stretch too much and risk breaking under the weight of the fruit they support. will wear.
- You may need to use a chainsaw if the branches are too thick.
- After each cut, consider applying healing mastic: wounds are the gateway to most cherry tree diseases.
How to graft a cherry tree?
The grafting of a cherry tree is so useful for preserve an interesting genetic heritage (taste of the cherries, color of the fruit, silhouette of the tree) just to adapt the tree perfectly to the environment in which it will be planted. If you are wondering if you can graft a cherry tree on a plum tree or an apricot tree, unfortunately the answer is no: the rootstock must be a cherry tree or a cherry tree. You should also know that the cherry tree is a fruit tree that is more difficult to graft than the others.
Of all the possible methods (English style, inlay, crown, slot, etc.), this one is the ridge that offers the best chance of success. It’s also quite simple to do:
- In August, take a branch to be grafted and put it in a damp cloth while waiting.
- Prepare the rootstock by making a T-shaped cut on it.
- Then take the eye of the graft with 1 cm of wood above and below.
- Insert it into the notch of the pattern and slide it down.
- Cut the wood above the eye flush with the horizontal notch.
- That’s it, your cherry tree transplant is complete, all you have to do is wait for it to grow!
How to maintain a cherry tree?
Seeing your cherry tree being attacked by pests is always heartbreaking! Like all fruit trees, the cherry tree is not immune to insect attacks and various diseases usually caused by fungi. If you’ve noticed that your leaves aren’t healthy or your fruit tends to rot, here’s exactly what you can find to find a solution to your tree’s problems!
rolled sheets
If your cherry leaves are curling and rolling in on themselves, you don’t have to look far to find the culprit: aphids! The black cherry aphid usually appears in the spring and the slimy liquid it secretes also tends to cause sooty mold (a black deposit on the leaves). To avoid these aphids, certain plants such as basil, lavender and lemon balm are natural repellents. And finally, the mixture of water and black soap to spray on the leaves is the best treatment!
Discolored and fallen leaves
When spots appear on the leaves of a cherry tree, the spots gradually darken and the leaves eventually turn yellow before falling off, a fungus is responsible. It’s cylindrosporiosis, to be precise, and if left untreated, it can compromise fruit production the current year or even the following year. The most effective treatment is a fungicide (coction of horsetail and sulfur) which is sprayed on the foliage.
Holes or rot spots in cherries
The culprit this time is a small fly! The cherry bollworm lays its eggs between May and June, and when the bollworm hatches, it burrows into the cherry to feed on it. At first, only a small hole appears in the fruit, but eventually rot develops around this hole and the cherry eventually falls from the tree. Early varieties of cherries generally escape this pest, and to prevent flies from laying eggs, glue traps are quite effective! (Also don’t let infected fruit rot in the ground.)
Flow of a resinous substance
If any type of resin drips from the trunk or branches of your cherry tree, it is definitely gum. This substance is secreted by the tree in response to an external attack, such as a severe cut, for example, or even a broken branch. It can also be a sign of a cherry tree that is beginning to age. Using a chisel, remove this runoff then treat it with red wine vinegar or Bordeaux mixture. And to avoid this type of phenomenon, do not forget to always treat the wounds of your cherry tree with healing putty.