- 1). Plant your fruiting cherry trees in sunny, well-drained soil. Overly wet soil or standing water can damage or kill the cherry trees, causing diseases such as root rot. Fruiting cherry trees also require at least 8 hours of sunlight every day.
- 2). Water your cherry trees immediately after planting and throughout the first growing season, using a soaker hose. A soaker hose will supply the cherry trees with deep watering. Supply the cherry trees with at least 1 inch of water per week, maintaining moist soil at all times. After the first growing season, cherry trees will require only supplemental watering during times of drought.
- 3). Apply a layer of mulch under the canopy of the cherry tree to help with weed reduction, water retention and root protection. A 3-inch layer of sawdust, bark chips, straw or pine needles should suffice. Keep the mulch at least 6 inches from the tree trunk to reduce pest infestations.
- 4). Fertilize the cherry tree with an all-purpose, nitrogen-based fertilizer. Check the packaging instructions on the fertilizer to determine allocation amounts and time frames. Make sure that you apply the fertilizer to the soil and not the wood of the cherry tree.
- 5). Prune your cherry trees to keep them strong and healthy. Prune the cherry trees in the spring, summer or fall before winter dormancy. Use a pruning saw or sharp pair of pruning shears to remove damaged, dead or inwardly growing branches, approximately 1/8-inch above the bud. Pruning your cherry trees will also help to keep them neat and tidy.
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