Ornamental Cherry Tree Care and Maintenance: What To Know

Ornamental cherry trees are truly a breathtaking sight. With their magnificent spring blooms and graceful structure, they are highly sought after by both garden enthusiasts and professional landscapers.

However, to keep these trees at their best, it’s essential to understand their specific care and maintenance needs.

Ornamental cherry trees need a suitable location with the right sunlight and soil conditions, consistent watering, regular pruning, appropriate fertilization, and protection from pests and diseases to thrive. They also require careful monitoring to ensure any issues are addressed promptly.

Let’s take a closer look at the specifics of caring for ornamental cherry trees, including choosing the right location, watering, pruning and shaping, fertilization, pests and diseases, and propagation methods.

So, if you’re ready to become an expert in ornamental cherry tree care, let’s get started!

In my comprehensive Guide to Cherry Blossom Trees, you’ll learn about the best varieties, pro care tips, problems to watch for, propagation methods, companion planting, and much more. Don’t miss it!

Choosing the Right Location

Choosing the right location is the first step in ensuring the health and beauty of your ornamental cherry tree. Here’s what you need to consider:

Grow Zones and Tree Hardiness

Ornamental cherry trees can grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, although this can vary slightly depending on the specific variety.

These trees are hardy and can tolerate winter temperatures in these Zones. In fact, they need a period of winter chill for their buds to break dormancy in the spring.

Sunlight Requirements

Ornamental cherry trees prefer full sun to partial shade. A location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day is ideal. Adequate sunlight ensures healthy growth and abundant blossoming.

Soil Conditions & Drainage

These trees prefer well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging and root rot. They can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soil as long as the drainage is good.

The soil pH should ideally be slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0). If your soil doesn’t meet these conditions, amendments like organic matter or sand can improve its structure and drainage.

Watering & Moisture Management

Proper watering is crucial for the health of ornamental cherry trees. Here’s what you need to know:

Moisture Preferences

Ornamental cherry trees prefer consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil. While they need regular watering, overwatering can lead to root rot and other problems.

The exact watering frequency will depend on your local climate and soil type, but a good rule is to water when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

The Importance of Mulch

Mulch can play a significant role in moisture management. It helps retain soil moisture, reduces evaporation, and keeps the roots cool in hot weather.

Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or compost, around the base of the tree, but avoid piling it against the trunk.

Watering Throughout the Seasons

Watering needs change with the seasons. In spring and summer, when the tree is actively growing, it will need more water. In fall and winter, you can reduce watering as the tree goes dormant.

Pruning & Shaping

Pruning and shaping are essential for maintaining the health and aesthetics of your ornamental cherry tree.

When & How To Prune

The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before the new growth starts but after the risk of severe cold has passed.

Pruning at this time helps prevent the spread of diseases and allows you to see the tree’s structure clearly. When pruning, make clean cuts at a 45-degree angle just above a bud or branch.

Pruning Goals

The goal of pruning is to maintain the tree’s shape, remove dead or diseased wood, and improve air circulation and light penetration within the canopy.

Proper pruning can help prevent diseases and promote better blossoming.

Cautions

Avoid heavy pruning as this can stress the tree and stimulate excessive or weak growth. Always sterilize your pruning tools before use and between cuts to prevent the spread of diseases.

Fertilization

Fertilization can help your ornamental cherry tree grow strong and healthy.

Selecting the Right Fertilizer

A balanced slow-release granular fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or similar is generally a good choice for ornamental cherry trees.

The fertilizer should also contain trace elements like iron and manganese. I personally use this fertilizer on my cherry trees.

Timing & Frequency

Fertilize in early spring before new growth starts and again in early summer if needed.

Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall as this can stimulate new growth that may not harden off before winter.

Pests & Diseases

Ornamental cherry trees can be affected by various pests and diseases.

Common Pests

Common pests include aphids, scale insects, and cherry slugs.

• Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that suck sap from the leaves.
• Scale insects are small, immobile insects that attach themselves to stems and leaves.
• Cherry slug is a type of sawfly larva that feeds on the leaves.

These pests can be controlled with insecticidal soap or other suitable insecticides.

Common Diseases 

Common diseases include cherry leaf spot, powdery mildew, and bacterial canker.

• Cherry leaf spot causes spots on the leaves.
• Powdery mildew causes a white, powdery coating on the leaves.
• Bacterial canker causes sunken, oozing areas on the bark.

These diseases can be managed with appropriate fungicides and good cultural practices.

Preventative Measures

Preventative measures include choosing a suitable location when planting, proper watering, regular pruning, and good sanitation practices.

Regular monitoring can also help detect any issues early before they become severe.

Propagation

Ornamental cherry trees can be propagated in several ways, including cuttings, seeds, air layering, and grafting. Each method has its own advantages and challenges.

Rooting Cuttings

Taking cuttings is one of the most common methods of propagating ornamental cherry trees. Here’s how you can do it:

1. In early to mid-summer, select a healthy branch that has grown in the current year. Look for a stem that’s mature but still flexible.
2. Cut a 4-6 inch piece from the stem, making the cut just below a leaf node. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting.
3. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone to encourage root development. This one is excellent.
4. Plant the cutting in a pot filled with a mix of perlite and peat moss. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
5. Place the pot in a location with indirect light and high humidity. You can create a mini greenhouse by covering the pot with a clear plastic bag.
6. After a few weeks, check for root development by gently tugging on the cutting. If it resists, roots have formed.

Growing From Seed

Growing ornamental cherry trees from seed can be a rewarding process, but it requires patience:

1. Collect seeds from ripe cherries in late summer. Clean the seeds, and let them dry.
2. Before planting, the seeds need a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. This can be done by placing the seeds in a bag of moist sand or peat moss and storing them in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.
3. After stratification, plant the seeds in pots filled with a well-draining soil mix. Place the pots in a sunny location and keep the soil moist.
4. Germination can take several weeks or even months. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, they can be transplanted to their final location.

Air Layering

Air layering is another method that can be used to propagate ornamental cherry trees. It involves inducing root growth on a branch while it’s still attached to the parent tree:

1. In spring, select a healthy branch, and make an upward cut about one-third of the way through the stem.
2. Prop the cut open with a small piece of wood or a toothpick, and apply rooting hormone to the cut.
3. Wrap the cut area with moist sphagnum moss, and cover it with plastic wrap. Secure the ends of the wrap with tape to hold the moss in place and maintain humidity.
4. After a few months, roots should develop in the moss. Once a good network of roots has formed, the new plant can be cut off below the roots and planted in a pot or a new location.

Grafting

Grafting involves attaching a piece of a desired variety (the scion) to a rootstock of another variety. This method is often used to propagate specific varieties of ornamental cherry trees:

1. In late winter or early spring, select a healthy branch from the desired variety, and cut a 4-6 inch piece.
2. Make a similar cut on the rootstock, and attach the scion to the rootstock so that the cut surfaces match up.
3. Secure the graft with grafting tape, and apply a grafting compound to seal the joint and prevent drying.
4. The graft should start to grow in the spring. Once the graft is established, the top of the rootstock above the graft can be cut off.

Remember that propagation can be a trial-and-error process, so don’t be discouraged if your first attempts aren’t successful.

Related Questions:

When Do Flowering Cherry Trees Bloom?

Flowering cherry trees typically bloom in March or April, but the exact timing can vary depending on the specific variety and local climate conditions.

How Long Do Flowering Cherry Trees Last?

With proper care, flowering cherry trees can live for several decades. However, their life span can be shorter in unfavorable conditions or if they are affected by severe pests or diseases.

Closing Thoughts

Ornamental cherry trees are a beautiful addition to any landscape, but they do require specific care to thrive.

By understanding their needs and providing the right care, you can enjoy their stunning blossoms for many years. Happy gardening!