Cherry Trees ( How To Plant )

               Good day to you all and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.  

               Today we are going to share with you how to plant cherry trees. Cherry Trees need plenty of room to grow, they can grow up to 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide depending on the variety you are planting. Cherry Trees look so good growing in a yard or in a field with other cherry trees.

               Both sweet and sour cherries are good choices for the home garden. Sour cherries are often used in pies and are widely adapted to different climates. Sweet cherries do not grow well in warm climates and usually need a second cherry tree nearby for pollination. Both trees require pruning and training to grow correctly and produce fruit.

              With regularly pruning the tree grows to at least 25 feet. Dwarf cherry trees usually reach 6 to 10 feet. Sour cherries grow to 20 feet tall and wide; dwarf varieties grow 6 to 8 feet high.

              Sweet and sour cherry trees can be pruned the same way. They need to have a central stem and open centers. Once mature, the trees require pruning only to remove damaged or weak branches. Sweet cherry trees are pruned to 25 feet tall. Sour cherry trees are often pruned to 15 feet tall.    

               Cherry trees are relatively delicate and seldom live for more than 20 years, most people feel that they are well worth the extra care that they need because they are so beautiful and yield such tasty fruit. You can significantly prolong the life of your cherry tree while decreasing the amount of daily work that you must invest in it by planting it correctly. A little forethought and planning can go a long way toward making your tree healthier and more productive.      

                                                    **  How To Plant a Cherry Tree **

Things You Will Need:  

* Shovel
* Fertilizer  
* Weed whacker

1. Select a site that gets plenty of sunlight. Cherry trees love sunlight. Avoid planting in a sunken area where the wind and sun cannot reach your tree.  

2. Make sure that that the soil is moderately acidic and well drained. You may need to use fertilizer that is specially designed for cherry trees if your soil is naturally acidic. If you do not know what the pH of your soil is, take a sample to your local garden center and ask for help. Soil that is slightly elevated tends to drain better, so if you have any low hills or rises in your yard, this can be a good site for the cherry tree.

3. Avoid areas where cherry, peach or plum trees have grown before. These types of trees all need the same nutrients and the soil will not be as good for the tree.

4. Plant in early spring. Cherry trees should be placed in the ground as early in the spring as possible, but late enough that all risk of a frost has passed.  

5. Plant the tree in a clear area that gives it at least 20 feet on all sides. You may need to clear the area if there is a lot of brush on all sides. You can do this with a weed whacker or a hoe.

* Tips & Warnings *

 Cherry trees are very susceptible to a wild plant called Choke Cherry. If you are planting your tree in an area that has been recently cleared, make sure that you keep an eye out for this weed.  

 Scale insects are the most common pest to cherry trees. Use oil spray to kills and prevent an infestation. Pruning and discarding diseased fruit can control common diseases, such as blossom blight and brown rot.  

               Well that's it for today, we hope to talk here again tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way. Until then, this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.