Cherry Tree Care, Cherry Tree Pruning & Cherry Tree Disease Treatments

In addition to their wonderful fruit, many property owners grow cherry trees for their spectacular spring flowers. Cherry trees can have a graceful weeping form or attractive upright canopy depending on the species. There are many cherry tree varieties to choose from. Most cherries produce pink to white flowers. Cherry tree leaves are also attractive in the fall. Bing sweet cherry trees produce large, delicious, deep red fruit. Bing sweet cherry trees begin to bear fruit in their fifth or sixth year, and once mature can yield up to 100 pounds of fruit.

Ornamental flowering cherry trees, such as the Kwanzan Cherry tree, Chinese Cherry tree, and Yoshino Flowering Cherry tree, are sterile and do not produce fruit, but are cultivated to be decorative by producing more abundant blossoms.

How to Grow: Cherry trees should be planted in early spring.  If growing cherries for their fruit, a cooler drier climate is best. One should plant varieties that bloom at the same time as successful pollination is necessary for a bountiful harvest. Cherry trees flourish in full sun and well-drained soil.
Size of Tree: Cherry trees are 20 to 30 feet high / 15 to 25 foot spread

Cherry Tree Care

Cherry trees are susceptible to many stresses, including insect problems and disease, such as cherry blight, making their life span around 20 years. However, by properly controlling insects and cherry tree disease, as well as watering, regular pruning, and using cherry tree fertilizer, you can enjoy the beauty and fruit of this tree on your landscape for years.

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At the beginning of the growing season horticultural oils should be used to smother scale insects and reduce over wintering populations of aphid and mite eggs. Cherry trees should also be pruned to remove dead and diseases branches and to control size.

Mature and established cherry trees benefit from fertilizer feedings of organic-based macro and micronutrients for the nutrition necessary to sustain their health and prevent cherry tree problems.

Cherry Tree Pruning

Pruning and training deciduous fruit trees are performed primarily to increase fruit production and develop a strong tree framework of optimum size and shape. This is especially important for a cherry tree which can grow faster than its body and limbs can actually support. Pruning is necessary to maintain tree health, vigor and productivity throughout the life of the home orchard.  Benefits of pruning and training include:

• Aid in the establishment of newly planted cherry trees
• Enhance early productivity
• Increase fruit size and quality
• Promote flower bud development throughout the cherry tree canopy
• Promote development of new fruiting wood needed to maintain productivity
• Reduce the tendency for biennial bearing
• Reduce incidence and spread of certain cherry tree diseases
• Facilitate spraying, fruit thinning and harvesting

Cherry Tree Diseases, Pests & Signs

There are several damaging diseases and pests that affect cherry trees. Some of the most common are:

Brown Rot – This fungus infects blossoms, fruit and small branches. Signs include cankers, fruit rot and blight.  Powdery, brown gray tufts can be seen on the twigs or fruit especially when wet.

Powdery Mildew – Fungal disease that attacks twigs and leaves. Signs are white patches on new leaves and premature dropping of leaves.

Cherry Leaf Spot – Fungus that primarily affects cherry tree leaves but can also attack twigs and stems. Look for dark colored spots on the leaves, leaf yellowing, premature dropping of leaves and white spots on leaves in wet weather. Cherry leaf spot is more prevalent in humid areas.

Black Cherry Aphid – These tiny soft bodied, black insects eat the leaves of the cherry tree causing them to become twisted, stunted and curled.  The aphids also secrete honeydew which may cause black fungus to grow. Severe infestations can kill young cherry trees and reduce quality and quantity of a mature tree's harvest.