How to Grow Cherry Blossom Trees

How to Grow Cherry Blossom trees

Read our tips on how to grow beautiful cherry blossom trees at home. With winter almost at an end in the southern hemisphere, we are eagerly awaiting cherry blossom season

In the slightly milder areas, the first blossoms have already made an appearance, reminding us that it

is almost time to start thinking about planting some new trees to be enjoyed in the coming years

Here are some of our top tips for growing these beautiful flowering trees

How to grow cherry blossom trees at home. 1. Plant your trees in full sun to partial shade

As cherry blossoms need a lot of sun to really thrive, make sure you choose somewhere with a minimum of four hours of sunlight each day

Elevated positions work great and choose a spot with well-draining and fertile acidic soil

2. Wait until the last frost has passed to plant trees. If you live in a frost-prone area, wait until after the last frost of the season before you plant young trees

to give them the best chance of thriving. The best time to buy cherry blossom trees is when they are bare-rooted over winter

They will be much more affordable when they are bare-rooted. Three, don't overwater cherry-blossom trees

Cherry blossoms do not need a lot of water, the exception being periods of drought or long hot summers

Once established, you should rarely need to water cherry blossoms through spring and autumn

if you have enough rain. In winter, trees are dormant, and, won't require water

4 Get on top of pests straight away Keep an eye on your trees for any sign of aphids disease or stress and take care of any problems immediately Unfortunately cherry trees can be prone to pests like cherry slugs

cherry sawfly, Japanese beetles, leaf miners, black cherry aphids, and spider mites

which can all wreak havoc on young and established trees. To deter pests, keep trees well fertilized and watered

The healthier your tree, the less likely it will be susceptible to, pests. For cherry slugs, sprinkle lime around your tree base and pick off any slugs as soon as

they appear. Try dusting leaves with wood ash to prevent the slugs from reoccurring. The best way

to deter most pests is to introduce natural, beneficial insects like ladybugs, which will get rid of

aphids and other troublesome pests. If you are lucky enough to have ducks and chickens, let them

loose occasionally near your cherry tree as they will also pick off insects and slugs

5. Plant trees together. Cherry blossoms self-pollinate and will blossom best when planted in groups

Make sure you give each tree enough space to grow. We love cherry blossom trees lining a driveway or entrance or as a feature in the front garden

Visit your local nursery to determine the most suitable tree for your climate and region to ensure you give it every chance to grow beautifully

Lastly, enjoy the blooms each spring. There is something truly beautiful about the arrival of the first delicate blooms of these wonderful trees

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