There is nothing better than snacking on juicy cherries from the tree in summer. We show you how easy it is to plant a cherry tree in your own garden.

The original home of the cherry (Prunus) is in Asia Minor in what is now Turkey. In summer, however, cherries are also indispensable in Central Europe. The sweet fruits are particularly popular with children and the seeds are often spit out in competition. The harvest season and the supply in the trade are unfortunately only limited. So that you can still stock up on enough cherries, you should definitely plant your own cherry tree in the garden.

Anyone who chooses a fruit tree wants to be able to enjoy it for a number of years. Therefore, some aspects should be considered right from the start.

Planting cherry trees: in pots or in balls?

The same cherry variety may be offered in the tree nursery in containers and in balls. While the plant as container goods is already cultivated in the pot in which it is also sold, the rooted goods are only digged out of the field with a ball of soil shortly before the order is placed and usually packed with a so-called balling cord. Balled plants are therefore usually only available in early spring or autumn, while container plants can be bought and planted all year round. Baled goods are relatively robust due to outdoor cultivation. In contrast to this, however, with container goods, no root mass is lost through the cutting out and the tree develops very well in the first year since it does not have to expend any energy for the roots to grow back.

The fruit tree is available in bales or in containers

When to plant the cherry tree?

The ideal planting time for cherry trees is in autumn (October/November). This gives them enough time over the winter months to take root and sprout vigorously in spring. Alternatively, planting in early spring (March/April) on a frost-free day is also possible.

Instructions for planting a cherry tree

If you have decided on a cherry tree, it should be planted as soon as possible after purchase. We explain to youBelow is a step-by-step guide on how best to proceed.

Materials needed to plant cherry trees

So that planting the cherry tree goes quickly, you should have a few utensils ready:

  • Spade, shovel, pickaxe
  • Support pole, binding material
  • Hammer, Secateurs
  • Planting soil, compost soil
  • trunk protection, coconut mat

Choose a "suitable" location for the cherry tree

In order for your cherry tree to grow well, you should think about the right location in advance. Cherry trees prefer a warm, sunny and sheltered spot. The soil should not be too heavy and wet, because the cherry does not tolerate waterlogging very well. A well-aerated soil with a high humus content is therefore ideal.

A warm, sunny spot is ideal for the cherry tree

Tip from the pro: Not all cherry trees are self-fertile. It is best to find out more about this directly at the nursery. It may be necessary to plant another cherry tree in the vicinity in order to be able to harvest delicious fruit.

Dig planting hole for cherry tree

The planting hole should be about twice the size of the root ball. Roughly pierce the outline of the planting hole with the spade and then remove the meadow and the individual layers of soil bit by bit. It is best to pile up the soil near the hole, as this will be used again later. It is best to dig the planting hole a third deeper than the root ball of the tree. Finally, the soil at the bottom of the hole is loosened with a hoe.

The soil removed from the planting hole will be needed again later

Insert support post for cherry tree

Wherever there is a hole, a support post can be hammered in. This should be about the same height as the trunk of the cherry tree. It is best to hit the pole on the west side so that the wind later pushes the tree away from the pole and not against it.

Prepare planting hole for cherry tree

Right from the start, ensure good starting conditions so that the cherry tree can grow well. To do this, pour a good layer of fresh potting soil into the hole and mix it well with a layer of compost. In addition, a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer - can be worked into the soil. This is slowly decomposed by the microorganisms in the soil and releases the nutrientsto the tree.

Preparing the cherry tree before planting

So that the roots do not grow spirally in the long term, you should score them all around with scissors before inserting them. Then loosen them up with your hands. This measure later promotes root branching.

Tip from the professional: If the root ball seems very dry to you, place the cherry tree briefly in a bucket of water before planting.

Plant cherry tree

Now you can place the tree in the middle of the planting hole and close the hole with the soil you removed earlier. The cavities that have arisen are closed by gently stepping on the earth. If you have problems with rodents in the garden, you can also attach a trunk protection at this point to protect the young tree from nibble attacks. In order to protect the newly planted cherry tree from strong winds, it is tied a hand's breadth below the end of the post. Be careful not to over tighten the rope or tie the tree.

A coir mat as a ground cover prevents weeds from depriving the tree of nutrients

Finally, you should water the cherry tree well. Slurrying ensures that the soil settles well and that the water reaches the roots. You can also put a coconut mat around the trunk of the tree. The ground cover suppresses the growth of weeds that could compete for nutrients with the shallow-rooted tree.

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Plant cherry tree summary:

  • Best to plant in autumn (October/November)
  • A sunny, warm location is ideal
  • Dig the planting hole at least twice as big and a third deeper
  • Hit the support post on the west side
  • Bring in fresh potting soil
  • Carefully carve and loosen the root balls
  • Place the tree in the middle of the hole and close it with the excavated earth
  • Press the soil lightly and water well
  • Tie to a post, attach grazing protection and lay out coconut mat

Caring for the cherry tree after planting

After planting, you should supply your cherry tree with sufficient nutrients through annual fertilization. It is best to use compost or organic long-term fertilizers for this, which are applied to the tree disc. Since the young cherry tree only has a limited root volume in the first few years, you should ensure that it is adequately watered, especially in the hot summer months. If youIf you want to learn more about fertilizing cherry trees, you can find more information in our special article.

With proper care, your cherry tree will become a bounty [Photo: Eugene Shapovalov / Shutterstock.com

In addition, a so-called educational pruning should be carried out in the first few years after planting. Later, a simple thinning cut is sufficient to remove diseased and old shoots. You can find more information about the right cherry tree pruning in our special article.

Many thanks to Floragard for the support!

Category:

Fruit