Flowering Cherry Trees

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How to Plant Flowering Cherry Trees First, water your potted tree and thoroughly moisten the root ball. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and put your tree in the freshly dug hole. The top of the root ball should be visible over the original soil line just slightly. Fill in the soil around the roots and water thoroughly. A deep watering will eliminate air pockets without overly compacting the soil. An inch or 2 of mulch spread out about as wide as the tree’s canopy offers many benefits to a new tree. How to Grow Flowering Cherry Trees Cherry Trees will grow and flower best in full sun and well-drained, moist soil. Water deeply about twice weekly while your tree is establishing. Once established, you will only need to water during extended periods of drought. Keeping a layer of mulch around your tree will reduce watering needs by keeping the soil moist. Mulch also protects the roots of your tree during temperature extremes in both summer and winter. Provide your tree with nutrients for the growing season by applying a slow release fertilizer in early spring. How to Prune Flowering Cherry Trees When pruning a Flowering Cherry Tree be sure to disinfect your pruners prior to and after using them. Remove any suckers or growth from the base of your tree. Pruning cuts should not go back farther than the branch collar. Heading cuts should be done about ¼ inch above a bud that is facing outward. Branches can be thinned back to the main trunk to help with air and light penetration on an over-crowded tree. When to Prune Flowering Cherry Trees Generally, pruning is not necessary for ornamental cherry trees. Winter or early spring is the best time to prune ornamental cherry trees if desired or required. Heavy pruning for shape and size control or invigorating an older tree should be done when your Cherry Tree is dormant. Removing suckers should be done as soon as you see them. Superficial pruning (for example a single broken or dead branch or 2) can be done at any